Cancer patients and their whānau are being welcomed into a new oncology facility at the Nelson Hospital campus, bringing chemotherapy treatment and outpatient cancer clinics together under one roof for the first time.
Located alongside the dialysis unit on Franklyn Street, the refurbished facility replaces services previously delivered across two separate locations on the hospital campus.
The move increases treatment capacity, with an additional treatment space allowing seven patients to receive infusions at the same time. Larger clinical areas also meet national healthcare standards and are designed to support growing demand for cancer services across the Nelson Marlborough region.
Patients and whānau are benefiting from a bright, modern environment, improved accessibility and parking directly outside the building, making appointments and treatments easier to attend.
Charge Nurse Manager and Head of Department for Oncology and Haematology Shelley Shea says the move is a significant milestone for patients and staff.
“It’s been a real journey to get to this point. It is wonderful to be all together as a team. We are so pleased for our patients and whānau to have such a lovely modern space to receive their care. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this move possible.”
Rodger Curry, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy at Nelson Hospital, says receiving treatment in the new facility has been a positive experience.
“The staff have always been exceptional, and I am so pleased they now have a much better working environment. It also makes a world of difference for patients undergoing difficult treatments to feel so much more comfortable”.
The relocation was made possible through the efforts of clinical teams, digital specialists and support staff, who worked together to prepare the facility for patients.
The new oncology facility also supports the wider Nelson Hospital Redevelopment | Project Whakatupuranga programme. As part of the redevelopment, services are being progressively relocated across the campus to make way for construction of a new 128-bed inpatient unit.
The oncology refurbishment was delivered through Project One of the Nelson Hospital Redevelopment and funded through the $73 million enabling works programme, helping lay the foundations for future healthcare services in the region.
