One of the new consultant appointments at University Hospital Waterford has warned the lack of robotic services in place will severely affect their ability to do cancer surgeries in the future.
Academic Oncologist Mr. Peter Neary has examined the department and a business case is now being prepared.
Waterford Sinn Fein Deputy David Cullinane says we can’t have a situation where UHW is the only hospital where new cutting-edge technology for cancer surgeries
is not in place.
“Robots are doing an awful lot more treatments in all the other cancer centres.
“It’s very high-level specialist technology, it’s changing, it’s evolving all the time.
“It’s more efficient, it’s better for patients, there’s less pain and it’s the future.
“His concern is that if we don’t get robotic services in place and the equipment that’s necessary to do it at the hospital in Waterford, then in five years’ time the hospital won’t be in a position to do cancer surgeries.”
In reply to a question from Sinn Fein Deputy David Cullinane, the Minister for Health said that the hospital group is fully supporting the submission for the introduction of Robotic Assisted Surgery at University Hospital Waterford.
Deputy Cullinane told WLR News that “they are currently preparing a business plan, I think it’s important that all Oireachtas members now support that application that we get this technology in.
“There are eight cancer centres in this state, seven of them have these robotic services, Waterford does not.
“I’m not sure why this wasn’t progressed in the past, but it is now being looked at.
“We have to make sure, given we are one of the designated cancer centres that we have the technology and equipment.
“It’s an application for funding that needs to be prioritised.”
Deputy Cullinane says it needs to proceeded with quickly.
“Given that it is in it’s infancy at this stage, a business case is only being developed.
“As soon as that’s done, the hospital group have said they will fully support it, hospital management have said they will support it.
“We can’t have a situation where new cutting-edge technology for cancer surgeries is in place in seven of the eight cancer centres and Waterford and the South East doesn’t have it.”
