Main Navigation Links
Third Linac at Wellington Hospital boosts cancer treatment capacity for Central Region
The central region of New Zealand this week got an additional weapon in the battle against cancer – with an extra Linear Accelerator (LINAC) to provide radiation treatment at Wellington Hospital.
The region previously had five LINACs available for the treatment of cancer patients – two at Wellington Hospital and three at Palmerston North Hospital. The new LINAC brings Wellington’s total to three, and the region’s total to six.
The new LINAC will help to boost the capacity of Wellington Hospital’s Blood & Cancer Centre - which delivers treatment for cancer patients from four DHBs in the lower North Island - Wairarapa, Hutt Valley, Capital & Coast, and Nelson/Marlborough – and with occasional support to other DHBs.
C&C DHB’s Operations Manager for Cancer Services, Astrid Koornneef, says the increased capacity created by having a third machine will help to meet increasing demand for radiation treatment.
“There are a lot of smiling faces around the Blood & Cancer Centre this week, because so many people have worked hard to get a third LINAC for this hospital, and this region, and to get it up and running,” Ms Koornneef said.
“Our new LINAC arrived in the country in September last year, then underwent a rigorous process of calibration and testing which took up the remainder of 2008,”
“To actually have it in service is an accomplishment for all of the DHBs in the Central Region. Their support and commitment to this project was essential in securing the $4.9m of government funding required – which includes the costs of the equipment itself and of the additional staffing required to run it.
“I also want to pay tribute to the LINAC supplier, Varian Medical Systems, with whom we have a long-standing relationship for the supply and support of our radiation therapy technology,” Ms Koornneef said.
C&C DHB’s Clinical Director for Cancer Services, Dr Andrew Simpson says the most crucial thing about this new machine is the increased capacity to provide timely radiation treatment to patients in the lower North Island.
“Cancer touches so many lives, and it has a profound impact on patients and their families. Having increased capacity and advanced technology to aid them in that battle is surely a good thing for everyone in this region,“ Dr Simpson said.