New hi-tech equipment at UHL oncology centre will increase patient capacity
THE MID-Western Radiation Oncology Centre is expected to see a 50 percent increase in patient capacity due to the installation of a new linear accelerator.
The Centre, which is located on the grounds of University Hospital Limerick in Dooradoyle, is part of the Mater Private Network (MPN).
In response to a question submitted at the Regional Health Forum West meeting, UL Hospitals Group CEO Colette Cowan said she had been in contact with the MPN in relation to the matter.
Director of Cancer at the MPN, Hugh Healy, confirmed it is investing €5.5 million in the Mid-Western Radiation Oncology Centre this year.
A new CT machine has already been installed and the MPN is set to replace one of the two linear accelerators in the centre due to concerns over the machines breaking down.
Mr Healy said the “downtime” (time in which one of the machines in the oncology centre has been out of order) has been five percent with the average downtime in large international cancer centres being between two and nine percent.
“We have an aggressive program of works underway to deliver a new machine by the first week of July.
“This will increase our capacity by 50% compared to the older machine.”
The old machine was decommissioned on April 3.