Almost two-thirds of cancer patients in the mid-west who need radiotherapy treatment are not receiving it because the service is not available in the region, a health board meeting has been told.
The revelation was made at yesterday's monthly meeting of the Mid Western Health Board, where board members agreed to intensify their efforts along with the Mid West Hospital Development Trust to bring radiotherapy services to Limerick.
The Mid West Hospital Development Trust has already offered to put up €6.1 million towards the cost of the radiotherapy unit and the Mater Private in Dublin has agreed to be the service provider with full responsibility for operational costs.
However, some months ago the government received an expert recommendation report that radiotherapy services be confined to Dublin, Cork and Galway.
Speaking at yesterday's meeting of the Mid Western Health Board in Limerick, Dr Kevin Kelleher, director of public health said, just 40 per cent of cancer patients who need radiotherapy treatment are receiving it.
An estimated 1,500 new cases of cancer are diagnosed each year in the mid-west region.
Approximately 750 of these cases require radiotherapy treatment.
"Only 40 per cent of people who need radiotherapy in the Limerick region are travelling to get it," said Dr Kelleher.
Speaking at yesterday's monthly meeting Limerick Regional Hospital, consultant Paul Burke called on board members to support the campaign for the radiotherapy unit, which he described as a "critical issue".
According to Mr Burke, the Mid Western Health Board is the only board in the country that has a concrete proposal which will not cost the government any money.
"We need to make an issue of this, because if we don't make noise then nothing is going to happen," said Mr Burke.
Many of the cancer patients in the mid-west who opt for the treatment have to live in Dublin during their treatments.