RCTS maintains 100% record as it moves toward a four-linear accelerator service

04/11/2011 | Health Targets - Shorter waits for Cancer Treatment Radiotherapy

The Regional Cancer Treatment Service is maintaining its 100 percent record of providing radiation treatment for all patients in its region able to be treated within the national health target of four weeks.

The centre, which provides radiation treatment for patients from the Tairawhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Taranaki, Whanganui, and MidCentral District Health Board regions, has been meeting the target since it was reduced from six weeks to four weeks in December 2010.

This is despite unexpected events, like two machines breaking down over two days, or surges in demand with patient numbers.

However, the RCTS is on schedule to replace an aging linear accelerator with a fourth permanent linac by the middle of 2012 which it hopes will smooth out surges in demand and give greater certainty of service delivery.

Tenders are being called this month for the building of a linear accelerator bunker, beside the other bunkers, to house the new linear accelerator.  Work on the bunker is expected to start in December.

The linac package has been ordered and is expected to arrive on-site in April, and will be treating patients by July 2012. The bunker and machine are expected to cost a total of around $6 million.

Meanwhile, the service continues to actively recruit more medical physicists despite their international scarcity, trying to increase medical physicist staff from four to seven, as part of the linac business case.

Three overseas radiation therapists commence work with the service, along with three New Zealand new graduates due to start later this month. Previous staff left for overseas travel or parental leave.

Contact: Communications Unit (06) 350-8945