The long-term future of the only specialist cancer hospital in the State is unclear after a major report into the development of radiotherapy services said the unit does not meet the required guidelines.
St Luke's Hospital in Dublin is one of only two radiotherapy treatment centres - the other is at Cork University Hospital.
An expert group set up to review radiotherapy services in the State today recommended radiotherapy treatment be sited in Dublin, Cork and Galway only. However, the site of the two centres to be located in the eastern region has not yet been decided.
According to the report, finding a site for the south Dublin region - where St Luke's is based - is complicated because "the radiation oncology unit at the hospital does not at present meet all of the guidelines identified by the expert group for a future radiation oncology centre development as discussed".
Part of the problem is that St Luke's is not attached to a major teaching hospital, which would provide support services and other clinical specialties
Speaking at the unveiling of the group's report, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said there were two options for St Luke's. "Either it extends to provide the extensive surgical and medical services or its radiation oncology services are transferred on a phased basis to a major teaching hospital on the southside."
But he said the hospital "has set the standards in radiation oncology and its expertise is and will remain at the forefront in the development of radiation oncology services in the future".
The chief medical officer in the Department, Dr Jim Kiely, has been appointed by the Minister to examine which of the hospital sites on the north side of Dublin would be best suited for a radiotherapy treatment centre.
Interested hospitals will be invited to submit their pitch for basing the centre on their campus to Mr Kiely who will advise Mr Martin before he makes the decision.
Mr Martin has set a deadline of February 2004 for reaching that decision.