City to get new $35m cancer centre

Trips to Palmerston North for cancer treatment could soon be a thing of the past for Taranaki people with funding officially approved for a $35.5 million cancer centre in New Plymouth.

The Taranaki Cancer Centre at Taranaki Base Hospital is proposed to open in 2024.

It will include one linear accelerator (Linac), which is used to deliver radiotherapy, in a purpose built bunker, and the centre will incorporate medical oncology and clinical haematology cancer care, a report to the Taranaki District Health Board said.

Cancer Society central districts division chief executive Debra Elgar said they were thrilled to see progress on cancer treatments being available for clients closer to home.’

‘‘We appreciate that this was a significant effort from the DHB to get this project over the line and get the funding in place,’’ she said.

‘‘We are grateful to those involved in securing this funding and look forward to the new Taranaki Cancer Centre greatly improving patient access to cancer treatment locally.’’

At present, Taranaki patients have to travel to Palmerston North for treatment in one of the four machines operated by Te Uru Mātai Matengau, the MidCentral District Health Board’s regional cancer treatment service.

The Ministry of Health has approved the Business Case proposal for the Taranaki Cancer Centre at a cost of $35.5 million, with Crown funding of $33m and the remaining $2.5m to be funded by the Taranaki DHB.

The Business Case Cost Plan included an allowance of $3.6m for the procurement of the Linac, including proprietary systems.

Taranaki was set to get a Linac in 2019. This was later changed to 2022, but last year plans for the Linac were pushed out until mid2024.

According to the board papers, other places across New Zealand, including Hawke’s Bay and Whangarei, were also wanting Linacs.

‘‘To achieve greater purchasing power and reduce procurement costs, it has been recommended that the Linac procurement be undertaken in a single aggregated procurement process.

‘‘Discussions with the Ministry of Health are occurring to determine the approach to undertake the procurement,’’ the report said.

Last year, the DHB estimated 270 people would use the machine in its first year.

It was also looking at $25m for the cancer centre.

In his report to the board, DHB general manager of finance George Thomas said the estimated costs of the centre and Project Maunga, the current hospital building project, were constantly changing as alternative approaches explored.

‘‘The supply chain and prices are volatile at the moment, adding complexity and unertainty to long term planning and procurement, and their budgets.’’

The cost of Taranaki’s hospital rebuild has already gone up by $25m to $325m, and the finish date has been pushed out by a year to the end of 2024.

Last month, the DHB blamed the impact of current market conditions and Covid-19 for the increased building costs. and options were

Traffic lights: