Health Minister pledges to help fund cancer centre

Northern Ireland Health Minister Bairbre de Brún has pledged to find the funds needed to build Northern Ireland’s new cancer treatment centre.

The Health Minister made the vow during a special assembly health committee meeting on Friday October 12.

Speaking on Friday she said: “While we understand the financial constraints and priorities, the money for this has got to be found. The number of people dying from cancer in Northern Ireland is now almost equal to heart disease. It absolutely must be got.”

Chairman of the assembly's health committee Joe Hendron said before the meeting that money must be found immediately to fund the £56 million centre that is replace cancer services in Belvoir Park hospital.

Concern has been voiced this week by NI’s leading cancer charities that there is as yet no start or completion date for Northern Ireland's cancer centre. The centre was due to open on the City Hospital site in south Belfast by 2003, but has now been delayed until 2004.

Speaking on Friday October 12 Arlene Spiers, the Chief Executive of the Ulster Cancer Foundation, voiced her concerns over the delay in the building of a new cancer treatment centre.

Although she had no concerns about the imminent installation of new equipment into Belvoir Park Hospital she was worried that the investment might “take the pressure off” the Department of Health to begin work on the new cancer centre.

Ms Spiers said she was delighted about the Health Minister’s commitment on Friday to find the money required for the new centre but urged the Department of Health to find the money “immediately.”

“Ultimately as an organisation, the Ulster Cancer Organisation is worried about the lack of progress on the go ahead. If the start date is put back I am worried that it may encounter more difficulties and get delayed even further. We are concerned on the behalf of cancer patients in Northern Ireland who have a right to a service that is equal to the best there is.” (AMcE)