$8.2m upgradedelivers vital equipmentfor cancer institute

CANCER patients across the region are set to benefit from faster access to treatment and new radiation therapy technology after an $8.2m upgrade at the North Coast Cancer Institute at Lismore Base Hospital.

The institute has replaced its two linear accelerators (LINACs), providing access to more advanced radiation therapy equipment capable of delivering the latest cancer treatments.

The upgrades are expected to improve treatment capacity, reduce wait times and support the delivery of advanced cancer care for patients across Northern NSW.

The project, funded through a grant from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, also included refurbishment of the radiation therapy bunkers to enhance patient comfort and upgrades to the planning room used by clinicians to design and schedule treatments.

The replacement of the LINACs was carried out in two stages over a 12-month period.

 

With both new machines operational, the institute expects to increase the number of patients treated each day by around 50 per cent, rising from about 40 patients to 60.

“These upgrades will ensure that cancer services in Northern NSW remain at the forefront of the latest technology and innovation,” Northern NSW Local Health District

director of radiation oncology Dr Carmen Hansen said.

The project also introduced several patient-focused improvements, including sequenced ceiling lighting panels that assist with patient positioning during treatment and new artworks selected through a patient survey.

The institute has continued to expand its treatment capabilities in recent years.

In 2024, it introduced a stereotactic radiotherapy program for eligible prostate cancer patients, reducing the standard course of treatment from 20 sessions to five.