28 Oct 2008

Private radiotherapy centre opens

8:48 am on 28 October 2008

A private radiotherapy treatment centre opens in Auckland on Tuesday. It promises to lift pressure on the public health system.

Auckland Radiation Oncology says the $19 million facility, built by MercyAscot and Southern Cross Hospitals, will help cut waiting lists.

With two linear accelerators, it hopes to treat up to 500 people a year within their first week or two of referral.

Auckland District Health Board patients currently wait up to 12 weeks or have to be treated in Australia or Waikato.

The DHB says that's because of a staff shortage, as five people have left recently to work for the new facility.

A private radiotherapy clinic is also to be set up in Chrtistchurch within the next 12 months.