Planning permission has finally been granted for a 30-bed lodge for cancer patients and their families in the grounds of University College Hospital, Galway.
The original planning application by Cancer Care West for the €3.5 million Inis Aoibhinn lodge had to be withdrawn due to objections from local residents on the grounds of traffic and access.
The lodge, which will comprise 30 en-suite twin rooms, will accommodate radiotherapy patients from along the western seaboard who have to travel to UCHG for treatment at the hospital's new radiotherapy unit.
Patients who require only a few minutes radiotherapy each day, but who have to attend the hospital five days a week during a five- or six-week course of treatment, will be able to stay in the facility with close relatives.
The chairman of Cancer Care West, Mr Bernard Collins, said: "This is a wonderful development for people who require radiation therapy support, in particular for those who travel for those services to Galway. We will provide aftercare, research, counselling and education services together to all cancer sufferers in the Galway area."
Consultant oncologist for the Western Health Board, Dr Maccon Keane, a member of the Cancer Care West board, has welcomed the planning permission decision.
Dr Keane pointed out that the project will be of enormous benefit to the care of patients and to the west of Ireland.
Consultant surgeon and regional director for cancer services in the west, Dr Oliver McAnena, said: "In making this decision, cumulative care can now be provided to patients in the west. The building will have a practical function for patients and family members within the province of Connacht and the rest of the west. It will be a homely place to stay and will also provide a focus for dealing with the psychological aspects of cancers."
These will include yoga, reiki, learning to live with cancer programmes, relaxation, visualisation, expressive art therapy, cancer support groups and many more services.
