SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT, MARY ROBINSON, AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NEW MOULD ROOM
CORK REGIONAL HOSPITAL ON TUESDAY, 23 NOVEMBER, 1993
I am delighted to be here with you today to perform the official opening of this new Mould Room facility at Cork Regional Hospital. I would like to thank the members of the Friends of Cancer Treatment for their kind invitation.
Most people have been or will be touched by cancer at some time in their lives. The extent of the cancer problem has led the European Community to launch the "Europe against Cancer Programme". The Programme has done much to focus awareness on the steps we can take to prevent cancer in the first place as well as on the benefits of early detection of cancer, with consequent early intervention and treatment. While cancer retains its power to alarm and distress, we must not overlook the tremendous advances which have been made in this field. Great progress has been made in the treatment and care of cancer patients due to advances in radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Cork Regional Hospital has a highly sophisticated Radiotherapy Department, treating patients from a wide catchment area. Considerable investment, both state and voluntary, has been made in the Radiotherapy Department in recent years. I understand that among the Department's recent acquisitions are a linear accelerator, a cobalt unit and a computerised treatment planning system. These machines have greatly enhanced cancer treatment at the hospital. Of course, the operation of this high tech equipment requires a dedicated and expert staff and Cork Regional Hospital is particularly fortunate in this regard. The personnel involved in the radiotherapy unit, and indeed the entire staff of the hospital, are worthy of our praise and our appreciation for the tremendous service they provide day in and day out.
A special tribute must also be paid to the voluntary groups, including the Friends of Cancer Treatment, who are involved in fundraising activities to purchase equipment for the treatment of cancer. They have been tremendously successful in their aim of improving services for cancer patients at Cork Regional Hospital. I know that their efforts are recognised and greatly appreciated by the hospital and patients alike.
The Friends of Cancer Treatment can take great pride in the opening of this Mould Room which has been developed through their voluntary fundraising efforts. The Friends, I understand, have collected the phenomenal sum of j70,000 for this project. The Mould Room facility is a tribute to their commitment and dedication and I applaud their efforts and their achievements, both past and present.
This Mould Room, the first of its kind in this country, will add a new dimension to the treatment capabilities of Cork Regional Hospital. Radiotherapy is a very precise science and the Mould Room will be used for making personalised masks and shells to hold patients in the exact position during radiotherapy treatment thus enabling the treatment to be administered in a highly localised and accurate manner. The advent of the Mould Room brings Cork Regional Hospital on a par with any centre of excellence throughout Europe or the United States as far as external beam treatments are concerned.
I understand that the Irish Cancer Society has generously provided the salary for the first year for a Mould Room Technician and I am sure that this important contribution to the development of the service is much appreciated by the people of Munster.
In conclusion, I would once again like to thank the Friends of Cancer Treatment for inviting me here today to perform this very satisfying task. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the development of this fine new facility.
It now gives me great pleasure to declare the Mould Room officially open.