Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has announced that a new satellite radiotherapy centre will be established at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry. West Tyrone MP, Pat Doherty, welcomed confirmation, but has once again questioned why the people on the region should have to wait until after 2015 before this centre becomes operational.

After listening to the minister's announcement in the Assembly on Tuesday afternoon, Mr Doherty, said, "I welcome the fact that the minister has now mandated the Western Board and Trust to prepare an urgent business case in preparation for this development.

"But I would once again question why the minister does not envisage the satellite cancer centre becoming operation before 2015? I understand the need for extensive planning to be carried out and I think that if the political will exists on both sides of the border then the envisaged time scale could be substantially brought forward."

Speaking during an Assembly debate on cancer services in the Foyle area, the minister said, "Cancer is a leading cause of death in Northern Ireland. Every year there are 3,600 deaths from cancer and around 8,500 new cancers are diagnosed. It is possible that we could see an overall increase in cancer levels of over 50% with potentially 13,000 new cancers diagnosed each year by 2025.

At the moment, all radiotherapy services in Northern Ireland are located in the cancer centre in Belfast. The centre was planned and built to meet the radiotherapy needs of the population of Northern Ireland up to 2015.

Mr McGimpsey said, "An initial assessment of projected cancer incidence and demographics suggests that a combination of radiotherapy services in Belfast and Altnagelvin would best meet the needs of the population of Northern Ireland beyond 2015. This is to ensure that 90% of the population is within one hour of radiotherapy.

"I have now instructed the health boards and the Western Trust to develop a business case for this development as a matter of urgency. This announcement will mean that, by providing radiotherapy services in Belfast and Londonderry, the needs of the Northern Ireland population will be met beyond 2015. It is also proof of my commitment to providing high quality and accessible cancer services to the entire population."Cancer services centre will be sited at Altnagelvin Hospital