The new Radiation Oncology Centre at University Hospital Galway will provide enormous benefits for patients Minister Stephen Donnelly said in Galway today.
Minister Donnelly was in Galway this morning for the official opening of the new centre, which provides state of the art radiotherapy treatments for cancer patients.
“It is important that we build additional capacity in our radiation oncology centres to deal with increased demand,” the Minister said.
“60 percent of all patients with cancer may require radiation therapy at some point, and the incidence of cancer nationally is expected to double by 2045 as our population gets older.”
“Alongside the radiation oncology unit in Cork University Hospital, this centre will provide enormous benefits for patients offering a comprehensive range of cancer treatment programmes.”
The overall cost for the new three storey oncology centre at University Hospital Galway was €70.7 million, including construction costs and equipment.
The unit is the largest infrastructure development in the history of UHG. The newly built 8,000sqm radiotherapy unit will lead to an increase in capacity for radiotherapy treatments.
The new technology also significantly increases the ability to accurately target and treat tumours.
It includes six radiotherapy treatment vaults using the most advanced linear accelerator technology, which provide improved imaging that enables a more accurate targeting of cancer.
A new brachytherapy suite has been built containing a state-of-the art surgical theatre and treatment rooms, along with a new superficial suite for skin treatments.
The centre also includes a new radiation oncology outpatient suite with 12 clinic rooms and facilities for patient review and support.
Funding provided in 2021 and 2022 allowed for the recruitment of 35 additional staff for radiation oncology services in Galway.
Next year will see the installation of the country’s first MRI-RT simulator in the centre, which will allow better imaging of soft tissue
Chris Kane, Hospital Manager said: “This facility really is a fantastic development to enhance and improve the radiotherapy services we provide to patients in our region.”
“This new facility has been planned for a number of years and has been supported as a strategic priority by the National Cancer Control Programme, Saolta and GUH and our Estates colleagues.”
“It will facilitate us providing services in a modern and larger facility with the latest equipment and technology.”
“It will enable us on a phased basis to increase our range of treatments, our staffing and provide over time additional capacity to treat additional patients.”
“I want to acknowledge and thank everyone who worked on this project from its inception to now delivery of the new facility.”
