An artist’s impression of the new cancer unit at Altnagelvin.
A cancer group fighting for services in Donegal and Derry have said Brexit will not damage plans for a unit at Altnagelvin Hospital.
Noelle Duddy of Co-operating for Cancer Care NorthWest said members have for over 11 years campaigned fearlessly for the retention and development of cancer services in Letterkenny University Hospital and for the provision of radiotherapy services in the NorthWest Region.
And she vowed that these goals will continue despite the surprise withdrawal of Britain from the EU.
She stressed that the Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin is NOT an EU project.
“Having achieved the retention of sympathetic breast services and the appointment of a permanent Consultant Breast Surgeon at Letterkenny, one of CCC(NW)’s top priorities was to lobby on both sides of the Border to ensure that the possibility of a radiotherapy unit in the North West Region became a reality and it has.”
“The NorthWest Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin is funded by both Governments, North and South. This exciting cross border Project enjoys the good will and support of Government, Politicians, Health Services and Communities from both sides of the Border. It is not an EU Project.”
”Currently: the construction of the Unit is nearing completion; recruitment to staff the facility is ongoing; cross border meetings to develop clinical patient pathways and clinical governance continue.”
“Whilst CCC(NW) remains optimistic that “Brexit” will not stop patients living in Donegal from accessing radiotherapy treatments in Altnagelvin when it opens its doors, we have written to both Minister of Health, Michelle O’Neill, MLA and Minister of Health, Simon Harris, TD requesting that they, “issue a clear statement as soon as possible, to reassure people living on both sides of the border, in the North West Region of this Island, that ‘Brexit’ will have no impact on cancer patients receiving radiotherapy treatments in the cross border Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin, when it becomes operational in late autumn of this year and that work to complete this project is continuing and unaffected.”
Ms Duddy also confirmed that Minister Joe McHugh, TD, has informed her group that – “It is business as usual, work is ongoing on site and between Letterkenny University Hospital and Altnagelvin. The Good Friday Agreement continues to be in operation and that includes Health that [in turn] includes Altnagelvin.”
“CCC(NW) have just completed this weekend a round of meetings with all our Donegal Oireachtas Members. We all agreed, CCC(NW) and Oireachtas Members the way forward in developing and enhancing Health Services in Donegal/NorthWest Region has to include consideration regarding further cross border co-operation, partnerships, collaborations.”
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