Health and Community Services
November 8, 2006

The Honourable Tom Osborne, Minister of Health and Community Services, along with representatives from Eastern Health, officially broke ground today to begin construction on two new radiation bunkers that will house two additional radiation treatment machines at the Dr. H. Bliss Murphy Cancer Centre.

"Government is committed to investing in cancer prevention and treatment to ensure that residents of Newfoundland and Labrador receive quality care when they need it," said Minister Osborne. "We invested $15.6 million in Budget 2006 to enhance screening services, provide cancer drugs for those who need them and respond to the growing demands for treatment. These new bunkers will house two new radiation therapy machines to respond to the growing need for radiation therapy in our province."

"This expansion will allow us to increase our treatment capacity and will ensure all patients in need of radiation will receive treatment in their home province," said George Tilley, Eastern Health President and CEO. "We�re pleased that construction is underway and we look forward to having our new equipment operational by October of next year."

These specially constructed bunkers will be approximately 24 x 21 square feet and must be made with high density cement which shields staff and the public from unnecessary exposure to radiation during cancer treatment.

Once the expansion is complete next fall, the Cancer Care Program will expand its capacity from two to four linear accelerators. The two new machines will treat approximately 60 individuals during an eight hour day, allowing a total of 120 patients to receive radiation treatment in the Cancer Centre on a daily basis.

Eastern Health has experienced a significant increase in the number and complexity of radiation treatments offered to provincial patients. In an attempt to respond to this situation and reduce the wait time for treatment, the Cancer Care Program has increased radiation treatment hours of operation to 12 hours per day, five days per week. Eastern Health also entered into an arrangement in May with Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto to accept up to 20 patients per month with a new diagnosis of breast or prostate cancer. By the end of December 2006, 50 cancer patients will have received treatment in Toronto. This arrangement is expected to continue until October of next year.

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2006 11 08                                                      9:00 a.m.