£50 million North West Cancer Centre to open

The new North West Cancer Centre is to begin treating patients from next week.

The £50 million pound facility is based at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.

Once fully-operational the new service will treat cancer patients living in the Western Trust area, the northern sector of the Northern Trust and areas of County Donegal.

Around 1,500 people are expected to receive radiotherapy treatment at the centre ever year, including 400 from the Letterkenny catchment area.

The initial phase will see small number of patients with prostate cancer will begin treatment next week, the second phase will be begin in the New Year with a gradual increase in the number of patients and different types of cancers being treated.

The new North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry is to begin treating patients from next week pic.twitter.com/McO0aREh4c

— Rebekah Logan (@Rebekah_Logan) November 24, 2016

Work on the new facility began in June 2014 and has been constructed with space to spare for potential future expansions.

The unit includes three £1.5million linear accelerators, which are used to give radiotherapy treatments to cancer patients. 

Lead Clinical Oncologist, Dr David Stewart, said:

“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.  

“Anyone with a recent cancer diagnosis residing within the catchment area of the new facility will have their radiotherapy treatment information and options explained to them fully by their oncologist.

“In the interest of consistency of care, a patient who starts their treatment in a particular hospital will continue to have their treatment at that same hospital. This will ensure that they are being cared for by the same team and more importantly with the same diagnostic and treatment equipment.”

“Patients currently attending a medical team for investigations or for cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or hormonal therapy will continue to do so. The point at which patients will attend Altnagelvin for radiotherapy is when they are referred by their medical team.

Patients living in Derry currently face a one hundred and fifty mile round trip to receive treatment in Belfast.

While those in County Donegal are forced to travel to cancer centres in either Galway or Dublin. 

The building has been designed with a neutral colour scheme and large windows looking out onto landscaped gardens to create a homely-feel for patients.

It includes a 27-bed ward for both single and combination radiotherapy patients.

Patients were given a say in the design of the en-suite rooms, with a padded window seat included for family members on overnight stays.

Health Minister @moneillsf wishes staff well ahead of the opening of the North West Cancer Centre on her visit this morning pic.twitter.com/52xxZn5JLd

— Western Trust (@WesternHSCTrust) November 21, 2016

Elaine Way, Chief Executive of the Western Trust 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.

“I would like to pay tribute to everyone involved in the construction of the facility and those who are working tirelessly at the service planning end, ensuring we will be delivering the highest quality of care possible.”