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 News
Southlake's Regional Cancer Centre
One Step Closer to Reality
Newmarket, Ontario - January 19, 2004 (Revised February 2006) - At the
January 15, 2004 meeting of Southlake's Board of Directors the plan
to build and open a Regional Cancer Centre at Southlake by the end
of 2006 was unanimously approved. The plan, which was jointly developed
by Cancer Care Ontario and Southlake Regional Health Centre, is
a major step in bringing advanced cancer services closer to home
for the residents of York Region and south Simcoe County.
"We are confident in the abilities of the Hospital's staff
and physicians to plan for and build a first rate regional cancer
centre," said Robin Tidd, Chairman of Southlake's Board of
Directors. "They have a proven track record with the recent
opening of the regional cardiac centre, and they already have the
expertise to perform specialty cancer services, such as thoracic
surgery."
The development of the plan involved representatives from Cancer
Care Ontario and physicians and staff of Southlake's existing cancer
program. It included an extensive review and identification of the
infrastructure, staff, and equipment required, as well as a study
on the impact the program will have on the Hospital's existing patient
beds and diagnostic services.
The plan supports the construction of a separate building on the
Hospital's existing property, which will include three fully operational
and one roughed-in radiation treatment rooms. This design will meet
the immediate needs of the one million people who currently reside
in York Region and south Simcoe County, as well as the population
growth projected up to 2011. During the first five years of operation,
the centre will offer a number of out-patient services including
12 hours a day of radiation treatment, chemotherapy, supportive
care, clinical research studies and a number of other cancer-related
services.
According to Daniel Carriere, President and CEO, the success of
this aggressive plan relies heavily on the provincial government's
continuing support.
"On a daily basis we are faced with the reality that waiting
lists to access cancer services is growing longer, which brings
little comfort to the people who are affected by this life threatening
disease." He added, "This situation is not news to the
provincial government, and we are confident that they will be supportive
of our plans to move forward as quickly as possible."
Southlake was designated a Regional Cancer Centre at a special
announcement made on August 28, 2003 by the Minister of Health and
Long-Term Care. The announcement identified a planning grant of
$2 million to assist with costs incurred in the planning and design
of a regional cancer centre to be located at Southlake Regional
Health Centre in Newmarket.
The Regional Cancer Centre will further enhance and expand Southlake's
existing cancer services, which include chemotherapy treatments,
clinical trials and thoracic surgery (specialized cancer-related
operations). Currently, advanced cancer treatments are offered only
in major city centres such as Toronto to the south and Sudbury to
the north.
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