霍克斯湾癌症中心正式动工 患者将可在家门口接受放射治疗
新西兰卫生部长西蒙·布朗（Simeon Brown）表示，随着霍克斯湾（Hawke’s Bay）新癌症中心今日正式举行破土动工仪式，当地癌症患者未来将能够在离家更近的地方接受放射治疗。
布朗表示：“今天标志着改善霍克斯湾地区癌症医疗服务可及性的一个重要里程碑。”
目前，霍克斯湾需要接受放射治疗的患者必须前往北帕默斯顿（Palmerston North），往返车程超过4小时，而他们往往正处于人生中最艰难的治疗阶段。
“新癌症中心建成后，大多数患者将能够在家乡接受放射治疗，更接近家人，也更接近自己的支持网络。”
预计每年约有500名患者将受益于本地化放射治疗服务，大幅减少因长途奔波就医带来的精神、经济及交通负担。
总投资增至4,480万纽元
新癌症中心将成为霍克斯湾地区首个提供放射治疗服务的医疗机构，也是**霍克斯湾阵亡士兵纪念医院（Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital）**整体升级改造计划的重要组成部分。
政府宣布，将额外投资760万纽元完成项目第二阶段建设，加上去年已公布的3,720万纽元第一阶段资金，总投资达到4,480万纽元。
布朗表示：
“一次性落实全部建设资金，意味着我们能够更快完成整个癌症中心建设，避免不必要的延误和重复施工，让患者尽早享受到更便捷的医疗服务。”
首次配备直线加速器（LINAC）
癌症中心最核心的设备将是霍克斯湾地区首台直线加速器（Linear Accelerator，LINAC），这意味着当地将首次具备开展放射治疗的能力。
LINAC能够精准照射癌细胞，同时尽可能减少对健康组织的损伤，不仅提高治疗效果，也能减轻患者治疗过程中的不适。
两阶段建设规划
第一阶段将建设：
- 放射治疗设施（LINAC中心）
- 两个放疗机房（治疗舱）
- 配套临床诊疗空间
- 预留未来新增第二台LINAC设备的扩展能力，以满足不断增长的医疗需求。
第二阶段将完成整个癌症中心建设，包括：
- 现代化肿瘤内科（Medical Oncology）服务；
- 血液科（Haematology）服务。
目前，相关医疗人才招聘及队伍建设工作也已同步展开，为新中心投入运营做好准备。
提升区域医疗服务能力
布朗表示，这项投资不仅方便患者获得所需医疗服务，也将：
- 提升霍克斯湾地区癌症专科治疗能力；
- 减轻其他医院的接诊压力；
- 建立更加完善、互联互通且具韧性的区域医疗体系。
他说：
“我们正致力于建设霍克斯湾未来的癌症医疗体系，确保患者及其社区在未来多年都能够获得高质量、现代化的癌症治疗服务。”
霍克斯湾癌症中心也是霍克斯湾医院整体重建计划的一部分，该计划旨在升级医院设施，以满足当地不断增长的人口和医疗需求。
Hawke’s Bay patients will soon be able to access radiation treatment closer to home, with today’s sod-turn marking the start of construction on the new Hawke’s Bay Cancer Centre, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“Today marks a major milestone in improving access to cancer care for people in Hawke’s Bay,” Mr Brown says.
“Currently, Hawke’s Bay patients requiring radiation treatment must travel to Palmerston North, making return journeys of more than four hours while undergoing some of the most challenging treatment of their lives.
“Once complete, the new cancer centre will allow most patients to receive radiation treatment closer to home, closer to their families, and closer to their support networks.”
Around 500 patients each year are expected to benefit from receiving radiation treatment locally, significantly reducing the emotional, financial, and logistical burden of travelling for care.
The new centre will provide Hawke’s Bay’s first local radiation treatment service and form a key part of the wider redevelopment of Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital.
The Government is also investing a further $7.6 million to complete Stage Two of the project, in addition to the $37.2 million announced last year for Stage One, bringing total investment to $44.8 million.
“Funding the full build now means we can deliver the complete cancer centre sooner, avoid unnecessary delays and duplication, and ensure patients benefit from improved access to care as quickly as possible.
“At the heart of the centre will be Hawke’s Bay’s first Linear Accelerator (LINAC) machine, enabling radiation treatment to be delivered locally for the first time. This advanced technology precisely targets cancer cells while minimising damage to healthy tissue, improving both treatment outcomes and patient comfort.”
Stage One includes construction of the LINAC facility, featuring two treatment bunkers and associated clinical spaces to meet current demand and support future growth. The second bunker will provide capacity for an additional LINAC as demand increases.
Stage Two will complete the wider cancer centre, including modern medical oncology and haematology services.
Workforce planning is already underway to support the new service.
“This investment is about making it easier for people to access the care they need, when and where they need it.
“Once complete, the Hawke’s Bay Cancer Centre will improve access to specialist cancer treatment locally, reduce pressure on other hospitals, and support a more connected and resilient health system for the region.
“We are focused on building the future of cancer care in Hawke’s Bay, ensuring patients and their communities have access to quality, modern treatment for many years to come.”
The cancer centre is part of the wider Hawke’s Bay Hospital redevelopment programme, which is upgrading facilities to meet the needs of the region’s growing population.
