Mayor of Derry, Cllr Brenda Stevenson, and Dr Susan O’Reilly, Director of the HSE National Cancer Control Programme planting an oak tree to mark the start of construction work of the new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital. Included are Gerard Guckian, chairperson, Western Health Trust, and Maeve McLaughlin, chairperson of the Assembly Health Committee.
Construction work has begun on a new £50 million Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry.
When complete, the Unit will offer an increased capacity in Northern Ireland for radiotherapy services and will cater for over half a million people living on both sides of the border when it opens in 2016.
Speaking at a celebratory event with staff to mark the commencement of the building works, Gerard Guckian, chairperson of the Western Health Trust, said when finished the Unit would become one of the most important and modern health care facilities for people living with cancer in the North West.
He added: “The new Radiotherapy Unit will touch the lives of so many people in the Western Trust area and in the Republic of Ireland for years to come.
“We look forward to working with the contractor McLaughlin and Harvey Limited to deliver this important project within the agreed timeframe of 2016.”
Una Cardin, project manager, said work was going on “behind the scenes” to ensure “this unique cross-border project” was delivered on time and to the highest standard.
She added: “We are currently building our team of consultants and medical professionals who are leading the clinical progress of this project.
“It is encouraging for everyone involved to see the physical work starting on site and we look forward to delivering high quality care to our cancer patients the new Unit come 2016.”
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