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Positive step toward third Linear Accelerator
Capital & Coast DHB’s bid for a third Linear Accelerator for the Blood & Cancer Centre at Wellington Hospital is now just one step away from getting the green light.
The Regional Capex (capital expenditure) Committee has this week given C&C DHB’s business case for the much-needed additional equipment its unanimous endorsement. The remaining step now is the National Capex Committee, which will meet in early December, and will make a recommendation to the government.
Capital & Coast DHB’s Blood & Cancer Centre, based at Wellington Hospital, delivers LINAC treatment for patients from nine DHBs in the Central Region of New Zealand. It currently has two LINACs, but increasing demand for radiation therapy treatment means a third machine is now required.
The Regional Committee Chair, Hutt Valley DHB’s Chair Peter Glensor, says the business case emphasised the huge amount of effort which staff in the Wellington Blood & Cancer Centre have put into trying to meet the growing demand for services with just two LINACs. “There’s been a lot of hard work and a lot of overtime by those staff, and that speaks to the genuine need for a third machine.”
“There’s a true spirit of regional collaboration in the way this business case has been supported,” Peter Glensor said. ”We look forward to a much closer interaction between the two cancer centres in our region (Wellington and Palmerston North), and among all the DHBs within the Central NZ Cancer Network.”
Mr Glensor added that in supporting the business case, the Regional Committee has also confirmed that from 1 July 2008 the payment system for treatment would ensure that C&C DHB is paid for the actual work done.
The director of planning and funding for C&C DHB Dr Nick Chamberlain has welcomed the Regional Committee’s endorsement of C&C DHB’s business case for a third LINAC.
Dr Chamberlain says that, subject to National Capex Committee approval in December, the additional LINAC should be up and running by mid-2008.
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