calgary's new cancer centre now taking appointments, opens in october
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dr. don morris, head of the oncology department, leads a tour in one of the patient rooms at the arthur j.e. child comprehensive cancer centre in calgary on dec. 19, 2023.
gavin young/postmedia file
calgary’s long-awaited $1.4-billion cancer centre is set to open within weeks, with alberta health services now booking appointments.
alberta health has announced operations at the arthur j.e. child comprehensive cancer centre, in the northeast corner of foothills medical centre, will begin at the end of october.
touted to offer world-class, tailor-made oncology treatment, as well as groundbreaking cancer research, the 186,000-square-metre facility is expected to be the largest hospital of its kind in canada.
“this represents a key milestone as we prepare for the clinical opening of the arthur j.e. child comprehensive cancer centre,” health minister adriana lagrange said in a prepared statement.
“we look forward to welcoming patients to this world-class facility where they will receive personalized treatments with exceptional care.”
officials with alberta health said patients with cancer care appointments booked on and after oct. 25 will now have those appointments moved to the new facility.
those affected will be notified of the location change through myahs connect, the patient communication portal, and by mail.
the arthur j.e. child comprehensive cancer centre at the foothills medical centre campus in calgary on march 12, 2024.
brent calver/postmedia file
the centre will feature 160 in-patient beds and more than 9,200 square metres of dedicated research space.
it will offer both in-patient and outpatient services through a multidisciplinary health system.
“after years of dedication and hard work, we are beyond excited to finally start transitioning our patients to arthur child,” said athana mentzelopoulos, president and ceo of alberta health services.
“this state-of-the-art space is a testament to the tireless efforts of everyone involved, especially our patients and family advisers, and we are honoured to welcome our patients.”
but officials would not say what specific equipment will outfit the new centre, or how many staff will be working in the new centre.
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while the existing tom baker cancer centre has 800 staff on site, the new centre is expected to require much more as staff work to transition patients and services to the new building.
construction of the facility began in 2017 under the previous ndp government, and a year ago was 90 per cent complete.
patient demand had outstripped the current tom baker cancer centre within three to four years of its opening, while many patient services have been scattered throughout the city.
last year, the own cancer campaign, which is aiming to fundraise $250 million for the new cancer centre, had reached $177 million.
now it is at $225 million, alberta health confirmed, with $5 million pledged earlier this year by arc resources ltd., the campaign’s largest corporate donation yet.
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