New satellite radiotherapy centre for Altnagelvin

Health Minister Michael McGimpsey today announced that a new satellite radiotherapy centre will be established at Altnagelvin Hospital.

The new centre is expected to be in place by 2015. It will provide the additional radiotherapy capacity needed to meet an anticipated increase in cancer in Northern Ireland.

Speaking during an assembly debate on cancer services in the Foyle area, the Minister said: “Cancer is a leading cause of death in Northern Ireland. Every year there are 3,600 deaths from cancer and around 8,500 new cancers are diagnosed. It is possible that we could see an overall increase in cancer levels of over 50% with potentially 13,000 new cancers diagnosed each year by 2025.

“The challenge is great and so must our efforts be to control and fight cancer - which is why I remain committed to ensuring that cancer services across Northern Ireland are of the highest possible standard.”

At the moment, all radiotherapy services in Northern Ireland are located in the Cancer Centre in Belfast. The centre was planned and built to meet the radiotherapy needs of the population of Northern Ireland up to 2015.

He said: “An initial assessment of projected cancer incidence and demographics suggests that a combination of radiotherapy services in Belfast and Altnagelvin would best meet the needs of the population of Northern Ireland beyond 2015. This is to ensure that 90% of the population is within one hour of radiotherapy.

“I have discussed this issue with a range of public representatives and community groups from the northwest. I also recognise the potential for cross border co-operation in the development of this resource.

“Taking all these issues into account and after careful consideration of my department’s assessment of the best location for additional radiotherapy provision, I am pleased to announce that a new satellite radiotherapy centre will be established in Altnagelvin.

“I have now instructed the health boards and the Western Trust to develop a business case for this development as a matter of urgency. Today’s announcement will mean that, by providing radiotherapy services in Belfast and Londonderry, the needs of the Northern Ireland population will be met beyond 2015. It is also proof of my commitment to providing high quality and accessible cancer services to the entire population.”

Notes to Editors:

1. The Campbell report into cancer recommended the establishment of a single regional cancer centre of excellence and four cancer units each of which should be linked with a larger acute hospital. There is now a state-of-the-art regional cancer centre in Belfast at a cost of £70million which is recognised as one of the best of its kind in Europe. There are also four sub regional cancer units at Altnagelvin, Antrim, Craigavon and the Ulster Hospital.
2. The cancer unit at Altnagelvin Hospital was established in 1999 and provides a wide range of cancer services to the population of the Foyle area. These include services aimed at early detection and screening, imaging, surgery and chemotherapy.
3. Pathology services to support cancer care are provided from a new £18million laboratory facility at Altnagelvin which opened last year.
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