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MacLochlainn demands answers on Wyndale 21.05.08

A BUNCRANA councillor has demanded immediate clarification about claims that a private clinic being built in Donegal could provide radiotherapy to cancer patients with public money.
Cllr. Padraig MacLochlainn said claims by the Wyndale Clinic consortium that it could provide radiation therapy in Letterkenny if the HSE was willing to fund it, needed an urgent explanation.
Cllr. MacLochlainn yesterday challenged the Government to reconfirm its assertion that the reason the State has not delivered radiation cancer services to Letterkenny General Hospital was because the population of Donegal is not sufficient to safely and efficiently provide it.
He asked how then could it be safe and efficient for a private clinic to provide the service in Donegal.
"I find it truly alarming that both Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher and Mary Harney have not jumped at the opportunity to clarify this matter of immense public importance to the people of Donegal," he said.
"It really is a straight forward question - as the Government have constantly reiterated their view that radiotherapy services for cancer patients are not deliverable within Letterkenny General Hospital because the population of 
Cllr. Padraig MacLochlainn
the county is not suffice to safely service one of these units, will they now confirm that they will ensure that the HSE apply the same standards to any application by the private sector to provide these services in Donegal?"
The town and county councillor criticised the former Junior Minister, Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher for agreeing to turn the sod at the recent public launch of the construction phase of the Wyndale Clinic.
And he said that the Health Minister, Mary Harney "avoided" the question put to her by his party colleague, Deputy Caoimhghín O Caoláin in the Dáil. He said Ms. Harney instead referred Deputy O Caoláin to the HSE for a response.
"15,000 people marched on the streets of Letterkenny for the Government to resource our public health system and deliver equality in cancer care on this island.
"We must not allow opportunistic private investors to profit from their stirling efforts. The rules that apply for safe and efficient cancer care in the public sector must also apply to the private sector," he said.
Cllr. MacLochlainn said the Government's focus should be to sustain and enhance cancer care services at Letterkenny General Hospital and ensure that the suggested 2015 timescale for the radiation unit at Altnagelvin Hospital be "significantly fast tracked".
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