A CUTTING-EDGE new oncology system, backed by a €4.5million investment, currently being rolled out by the Mater Private Network in Limerick, will mean clinicians will be able to precisely target cancer tumours in a way they couldn’t before.
And the introduction of stereotactic radiation oncology in the Mid West Radiation Oncology Centre, based at University Hospital Limerick, can, in some specific cases, eliminate the need for surgery in some cancer patients.
Announcing the new treatment possibilities and investment for 2025, at an event to celebrate the group’s 20-year history operating in the Mid West, Hugh Healy, director of cancer at Mater Private Network, told the Limerick Post that stereotactic radiation oncology is revolutionary in the precision with which it can target unwanted cancer cells.
“The radiotherapy in this case comes from both sides, not just one. It can be used for very precise treatments on some tumour types in the spine and brain and it can be effective when there are multiple clusters in the lungs,” the Mater Private Network director of cancer said.
“It allows us to treat things we couldn’t treat before. Our mission is to deliver the highest standards of cancer care and treatment to every patient who walks through our doors and this investment supports that goal.”
Mr Healy said the existing expertise of the Mater team, coupled with a mission to make patient’s experience as good as it can be, is all part of having a centre of excellence here in Limerick.
“No one wants to have to come through our doors, but if they do, we make it as easy as possible for them. They have a complete expert, muti-disciplinary team from oncologists to dieticians who will talk to them about their treatment, and about any effects they may be having.
“It makes no difference whether a patient has health insurance, whether they have been referred by the HSE – we are working with everyone to ensure that people can get the very best treatment, here, where they live.”
He told this newspaper that, “looking to the future, the introduction of stereotactic radiation oncology in our Limerick centre will enable us to treat more complex tumour types and bring the most advanced radiotherapy capabilities to the region”.
Since its establishment in 2005, the Mid West Radiation Oncology Centre has treated over 15,500 patients from across Limerick, Cork, Tipperary, Clare, Galway, and Kerry, and is the region’s only specialist radiotherapy facility.
Offering treatment through Ireland’s first halcyon linear accelerator, over 1,500 patients with a range of cancer types have been treated since it was installed in July 2023, with a 50 per cent reduction in treatment times and enhanced patient comfort.
Today, the centre treats as many as 95 patients per day, supported by a dedicated team of approximately 50 staff. Services are delivered through close collaboration with the HSE and Mid Western Development Trust, ensuring integrated care is available for patients across the region.
This fresh investment brings the total investment in the centre above €10m over the past five years.
Speaking at the centre’s 20th anniversary celebrations this week, CEO of Mater Private Network John Hurley said that “this milestone is a testament to Mater Private Network’s unwavering commitment to investing in cutting-edge technology, patient care, and the communities we serve”.
“Over the past 20 years, the Mid West Radiation Oncology Centre has played a pivotal role in the cancer journeys of thousands of patients, enabling world-class care without the need to travel. As we look to the future, continued investment in these services will ensure patients across the Mid West and beyond have access to the most advanced treatments available.”
