Province, QEII Foundation Pledge $14 Million for Cancer Care, Wait Times
Health
Published Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Cancer patients in Nova Scotia will get better care and shorter wait times thanks to the province's $10.1-million contribution to the radiation therapy project. The QEII Foundation has also committed to raise $4 million for equipment for the Nova Scotia Cancer Centre at the QEII Health Sciences Centre.
Quotes
“This is a significant investment in the future of cancer care in Nova Scotia. The new equipment and expanded bunker will help to reduce wait times and improve patient care for years to come.
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Maureen MacDonald, Minister of Health
“This will enable us to provide world-class radiation treatment It will help us meet our goal of making wait times for Nova Scotians requiring radiation treatment among the shortest in Canada.
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Dr. Tetteh Ago, chief of radiation oncology for Capital Health
“Partnerships like this one with the QEII Foundation will help the government to live within its means and continue to provide needed services.
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Maureen MacDonald, Minister of Health
“Cancer is something that affects Nova Scotia families every day. We need advancements like this and that's why the QEII Foundation is standing behind the project and asking Nova Scotians to give generously.
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Bruce Marchand, vice-chair of the QEII Foundation's volunteer board of trustees
Quick Facts
- The provincial investment will help expand the cancer centre, build new radiation therapy bunkers and buy new equipment.
- The QEII Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization established to strengthen health care at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. The foundation invests in projects to acquire leading-edge patient care technology, ground-breaking medical research and community-based disease prevention programs.
- The radiation therapy project was announced in March 2007, when Nova Scotia received $24 million from the federal government. Since then, a review with cancer centre staff determined that additional funding would be needed to provide adequate space and equipment.
- Cancer experts anticipate an increased demand for radiation therapy and Nova Scotia is preparing to meet that.
- The radiation therapy project is a $39.5-million initiative that will significantly improve the amount and quality of radiation therapy Nova Scotians receive in the province's two cancer centres. It is funded by the Department of Health, Health Canada, Capital District Health Authority, the QEII Foundation, the Cape Breton District Health Authority and the Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation, which contributed $1 million to an expansion taking place at the Cape Breton Cancer Centre.
Learn More
- Department of Health
- Wait times
- Capital District Health Authority
- Cape Breton District Health Authority
- QEII Foundation
- Health Canada
- Cape Breton Regional Hospital Foundation
Media Contacts
- John Gillis
- Capital District Health Authority
- Pager: 902-458-5376
- E-mail: johnw.gillis@cdha.nshealth.ca
- Christine Smith
- Cancer Care Nova Scotia
- Cell: 222-9739
- E-mail: Christine.smith@ccns.nshealth.ca
- Steve Jennex
- QEII Foundation
- 902-473-5591
- Cell: 902-220-3679
- E-mail: Steve.Jennex@qe2-hsc.ns.ca
- Ryan Van Horne
- Department of Health
- 902-424-2608
- Cell: 902-233-7856
- E-mail: ryan.vanhorne@gov.ns.ca
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- Funding shows that even in these tough economic times, government committed to reducing wait times and improving patient care.
- Province is happy to provide best treatment it can to help courageous cancer patients on arduous journey back to wellness.
- Dr. Tetteh Ago says patients will be the biggest winners because of new facilities and equipment for Cancer Centre.
- District Chief of Radiation Oncology says an extra 50 patients a day will be treated which will shorten wait list.
- QEII Foundation vice-chair Bruce Marchand says Radiation Therapy project shows that partnerships can work to improve health outcomes.