Diagnostic service renovations at the University Hospital of Northern British Columbia (UHNBC) have been completed. The project, which began in May 2010, will help to support the expanded services required when the BC Cancer Agency Centre for the North opens.
“Today marks another important milestone in the enhancement of cancer care in the North,” Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond said.
“These service improvements will help UHNBC to better meet the needs of our new regional cancer centre as well as improve access to services for hospital patients.”
Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Pat Bell added.
“These renovations are a key part of the Northern Cancer Control Strategy,” Bell said.
“Ongoing service developments across the North, such as these, are helping to improve quality of cancer care for northern patients and their families.”
The project focused on the lab and medical imaging areas at UHNBC and included a small addition to the hospital building. Renovations included a third blood collection station; redesigned waiting areas in both departments with increased seating and privacy; and reorientation of the technologist work space to improve flow and efficiency. The enhancements enables UHNBC to more fully support the new Centre for the North in such areas as blood collection, specimen analysis, and diagnostic imaging.
“These upgrades enables UHNBC to better support patients who will undergo treatment at the new cancer centre, as well as enhance services for patients at the hospital,” Dr. Charles Jago, Northern Health board chair said.
“Through projects such as these, the Northern Cancer Control Strategy partnership is helping to improve cancer care for Northern residents.”
Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad commented on the upgrades.
“I am proud of all the work that has gone into making renovations at UHNBC a reality,” he said.
“These upgrades reflect our commitment to look at the provision of health services through a rural lens so all British Columbians have access to the best possible patient care.”
The renovations were Phase One of an $8.3 million, two-phased project that is part of the Northern Cancer Control Strategy.
Phase Two is the development of six oncology beds at UHNBC, which are expected to start once the Centre for the North opens in late 2012.
The Northern Cancer Control Strategy (NCCS) is funding 60 per cent and the Fraser Fort George Regional Hospital District is funding 40 per cent of the total project costs.
“This has been a very important project for healthcare in our region,” Stephanie Killam, chair of the Fraser Fort George Regional Hospital District said.
“These renovations will help local cancer patients for generations to come. We are very pleased to be a part of these service improvements.”
“These renovations at UHNBC will help the Centre for the North to provide the best care possible, closer to home, for northern patients,” Brian Schmidt, interim president of the BC Cancer Agency, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority said.
“We look forward to a continuing partnership with Northern Health in the further development of cancer services in the North.”
The $106 million Northern Cancer Control Strategy is a joint partnership between Northern Health, BC Cancer Agency and the Provincial Health Services Authority. It is focused on enhancing the continuum of cancer services in the North, including prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and supportive and palliative care.