Province contributing $450,000 towards cancer centre in Yarmouth

The centre will be located on the south wing of the fourth floor of the old hospital building.

“The centre will provide a better environment for cancer patients and families by grouping all cancer-related services in one location,” the health minister said.

Addressing hospital and health authority staff members and others who were on hand for the Jan. 11 announcement, the minister said the centre will help relieve some of the stress facing cancer patients and their loved ones.

Other speakers on hand for the occasion included Ron Horrocks, chair of the South West Health board of directors, who called it “a special day for us here in southwestern Nova Scotia.”

He referred to what the new facility will offer, including “room for consultations with other health professionals, access to educational materials, comfortable accommodations for education sessions and a cozy place to make a cup of tea and wait comfortably.”

The centre will house 10 chemotherapy chairs, twice the current number, said Cathy Blades, vice-president of clinical care for South West Health, who served as MC for the announcement.

Blaise MacNeil, the district health authority’s chief executive officer and another of the day’s speakers, noted in an interview that the centre will offer an improved environment not just for cancer patients and their families but for the medical staff as well.

Asked about a time frame for the centre’s development, he said, “We have the basic design ready. The space is obviously ready…so we’re hoping we can get out of the gate pretty quick.”

The centre hopefully will be finished within a year or so, he said.

In their formal remarks he and Horrocks acknowledged the efforts of those who have contributed to the cancer centre initiative, including the district cancer committee, the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation and those involved in the lobster calendar, a fundraiser that generated over $100,000 for the project.

Wrapping up his address to the assembled medical personnel, political representatives and other guests, MacNeil said, “I look forward to seeing you all again as we actually open the new cancer centre.”