Whanganui Hospital Chemo Unit Set to Open, Eliminating the Need for Cancer Patients to Travel for Treatment
Whanganui is eagerly anticipating the grand opening of its state-of-the-art chemotherapy facility, set to occur just days before Christmas. The new $800,000 infusion unit at Whanganui Hospital will put an end to the long journeys cancer patients had to make to receive chemotherapy treatment in Palmerston North.
According to Kath Fraser-Chapple, the acting group director of operations at Whanganui Hospital’s Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand, the new facility will adopt a phased capacity approach to treatment. It will have the ability to cater to up to 10 patients daily, offering infusion therapy, medical infusions, and chemotherapy services.
The unit’s very first patients will receive notifications about their appointments closer to the opening date, explained Fraser-Chapple in an interview with Local Democracy Reporting. She also emphasized the significant advantages of having the new facility at the hospital, as it minimizes patients’ travel time and stress while receiving treatment.
A festive blessing and celebration will mark the grand opening of the unit on December 14, with the official announcement of its name. The government secured funding for the much-needed facility in February 2020. Fraser-Chapple noted that instead of constructing a purpose-built unit, existing space within the hospital was repurposed, resulting in a more cost-effective and expedient process.
The decision to build the unit was greatly influenced by the burden and inequity experienced by patients who had to travel long distances for treatment. Nancy Tuaine, the chief executive of Whanganui River iwi entity Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui, stressed the importance of having health services that are easily accessible and equitable for all. Whether it is an infusion unit or a dialysis unit, she stated, the aim has always been to bring healthcare closer to the local population.
Tuaine expressed her enthusiasm for the infusion unit, highlighting the relief it brings to patients and their families who often face time constraints and lack the necessary resources for travel support. She lauded the Cancer Society for their contribution to helping people reach necessary services, but noted that having the unit nearby removes the additional strain of long and potentially traumatic journeys.
The more we can do to bring these services to the people, the stronger our community will be and the better we can support our whānau going through their cancer journey, she shared.
The opening of the Whanganui Hospital’s infusion unit represents a significant milestone in improving local healthcare accessibility. As the community eagerly awaits the grand opening, the new facility’s ability to serve patients closer to home promises to significantly alleviate the physical and emotional burdens often associated with cancer treatment.
