Mayor briefed on cancer unit and hopes work will start in Spring 2014

SCAFFOLDING around Londonderry’s new cancer unit will hopefully sprout with the daffodils next year, according to Mayor Martin Reilly who was briefed on the project on Thursday (September 26).
Mayor Martin Reilly with St. Mary's College and Thornhill College pupils at 
a Macmillan fundraising event.Mayor Martin Reilly with St. Mary's College and Thornhill College pupils at 
a Macmillan fundraising event.
Mayor Martin Reilly with St. Mary's College and Thornhill College pupils at a Macmillan fundraising event.

The Mayor - who has battled cancer himself in the past - said work will hopefully begin in early 2014 now rather than in 2013 as had originally been hoped.

It’s the second slippage for the radiotherapy project. It was originally supposed to open in 2015. But that’s been shifted back to 2016.

The Mayor said: “I appreciated the opportunity to hear from the officials in the Western Trust who are working hard to deliver the opening of the new Radiotherapy Unit in 2016.

He added: “The obvious health benefits for patients in having this treatment available closer to home are complemented by the boost to the construction industry and the essential specialist workforce recruitment which this new Radiotherapy Unit will bring to this city. I hope that the Western Trust plans will continue apace and that we will see construction commence early in the Spring.”

He was speaking after visiting Altnagelvin Hospital where he received an update on the radiotherapy unit.