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New cancer centre to start with
prostate patients
17.11.16
THE cross-border
radiotherapy cancer centre at Altnagelvin Hospital
is on target to begin taking patients at the end of
this month, it's been confirmed.
The Western Trust said the new service - a decade in
the making - will "greatly enhance" existing cancer
care in Derry, Donegal and the trust's wider north
west catchment area. |
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The courtyard at the new North West
Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry. |
Lead clinical
oncologist, Dr David Stewart said: “For the past
three years our oncology team, therapeutic
radiography staff and medical physics team have been
working together to design patient pathways and to
plan for the delivery of the new service.
"We have also worked closely with our health
colleagues at the regional cancer centres in Belfast
and Galway and with cancer services staff in the
Northern Trust and Letterkenny University Hospital.”
Dr Stewart added: “To support the implementation of
radiotherapy treatment at the hospital, the opening
of the Radiotherapy Department will be phased. This
is to ensure radiotherapy within Northern Ireland
continues to be delivered safely to the highest
standard.
“The initial phase will see a small number of new
patients with prostate cancer receive their
treatment at the centre. This will commence within a
matter of days. Phase two, in the New Year, will see
a gradual increase in the number of patients and
different types of cancers being treated at the
centre.” |
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The reception area at the new North
West Cancer Centre. |
Patients getting a
cancer diagnosis will be sent to the new Altnagelvin
unit if they are referred by the medical team at
their own hospital.
Western Trust chief executive Elaine Way said: “A
new radiotherapy facility at Altnagelvin Hospital
has been on the horizon for almost a decade. It is
absolutely fantastic for the people of the North
West and surrounding areas that we are now about to
make use of this outstanding new development." |
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