North To Get Cancer Clinic

Friday, September 21, 2007 02:53 PM

Premier makes announcement of Cancer Clinic in Atrium of PGRH

Premier Gordon Campbell announced today in Prince George that a new Cancer Clinic will be built in this city.

The facility will be up and running according to the Premier by 2012. "Cancer is a devastating illness that will affect one in three British Columbians at some time in their life," said Campbell. "The new cancer centre planned for Prince George is part of our northern cancer control strategy to further improve care and access close to home for residents of all northern communities."

Construction of a new cancer centre in Prince George is one of the recommendations of the Premier’s Consultation for Improved Cancer Care in Northern B.C., a report developed by former University of Northern B.C. president Dr. Charles Jago and then-Northern Health board chair Jeff Burghardt.

( at left, Jeff Burghardt, former Chair of Northern Health, and Dr. Charles Jago new Chair)

The report is the result of an extensive consultation process in the North that involved 1,000 residents from more than 17 communities.

The recommendations of the report include:

A new cancer centre in the North will be attached to Prince George Regional Hospital and will include radiation therapy and the addition of a cancer lodge to support patients and their families with accommodations. The centre will be managed and operated by the BC Cancer Agency.
Increased training and support for northern physicians on cancer control, including access to BC Cancer Agency resources through outreach and telehealth services.
Greater focus on cancer screening services and early diagnosis across the North and enhancing the marketing of screening and availability of diagnostic services.
Patient-centred care where navigational supports are provided to ensure northerners receive timely care and the same quality of care.
Enhancements to the system of cancer care in the North by strengthening the network of care that extends from smaller communities to the largest centres through the family practice and community oncology networks.
Recruitment and training initiatives to attract and retain the required professionals in the North.
Enhanced cancer prevention initiatives, including public education on lifestyle changes to prevent the incidence of cancer, especially around reducing tobacco use.

Dr Charles Jago said on accepting to head Northern Health that his priority would be the establishment of a Cancer Clinic.

Below, Dr. Charles Jago, Premier Gordon Campbell, Northerm Medical Society President Dr, Bert Kelly and Jeff Burghardt, Former Chair of Northern Health

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Posted on Friday, September 21, 2007 02:53 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Gofaster on September 21 2007 4:07 PM

This would be wonderful...
But with all the other promises can we rely on his "word',
we can hope, but I'll breathe while waiting...

Posted by: Runner46 on September 21 2007 4:40 PM

There is now no reason to not live here.

The jobs are here, the community is here, the facilities are here, the doctors are here, and now there will be a clinic here.

A good place to work, play and die.

That is definetly My Prince George.

RJD

Posted by: He speaks on September 21 2007 4:40 PM

Well, lets see how the process works, if I remember correctly there has to be a lot of infrastructure in place to support the clinic. Its not just a building with staff.

Posted by: owl on September 21 2007 5:08 PM

Now I can finally start smoking .....

;-)

I love the trees ....

Posted by: opinionated on September 21 2007 5:30 PM

I have to agree with Runner. We should all count our blessings that we live here!

Posted by: dgdiggler on September 21 2007 7:15 PM

Yes, I like PG but remember, the clinic is a good thing to have here since so many people in this area are getting cancer due to the environment and particulates here. PG has the highest per capita cardio respiratory problems in the province.

Posted by: Palopu on September 21 2007 8:52 PM

Its a very nice picture, however it doesnt appear to have any relation to the Prince George Regional Hospital. Where is the space at our present Hospital to build this facility. The Hospital is boxed in by streets to the East and West, and Parking lots to the North and South, plus 15th avenue. Seems to me it would have to be a very small building to fit anywhere in that area, which then leads to the question. Where did the figure of $ 100 Million come from and what are we actually going to get for this money. Maybe we will have less parking at the Hospital even though this is already a serious problem.

I suspect we will get more information later.

Posted by: owl on September 22 2007 12:59 AM

There is still space within the hospital which is unused I believe. So, some of it may be a renovated to suit a clinic with some addition possibly.

Then there is the housing component. And the building up of programs which will also have to be funded ... so not all the money will be for building, I suspect.

As far as space goes, there is tons. There is the parking lot and there is most of the block on which the Northern Health Unit sits.

A master plan of the mid 1970�s had a pedestrian bridge spanning Edmonton St. to a parkade built to the south of the NHU. A parkade could be built in several areas.

Remember we are into �smart growth�. That means we do not have to continue to build 1,2,3 storey buildings. We might actually build some that are 10 storeys. Hospitals do not have to be space hogs. They build compact hospitals in major cities and there are many reasons for following suit. The space we have there should be able to serve a city of at least 300,000 before we would need to build a second hospital.

Posted by: owl on September 22 2007 1:38 AM

I just checked the space taken up by VGH in Vancouver versus the PGRH. Without the Health Unit to the east of Edmoton St. the two sites are very close to the same size. If one takes in the NHU the area is greater than the area for the VGH.

Posted by: Ragtop on September 22 2007 8:46 AM

Finally someone is realilizing that we are real people with needs in Northern BC. I do hope this comes to be.