The opening of a $56 million Taranaki Cancer Centre in New Plymouth is being described as life changing for people living with the disease in the region, and for the professionals who care for them.
About 300 patients a year have been making the three-hour trek to Palmerston North for radiation treatment - sometimes lasting just minutes - but now 80 percent of radiation therapy will be delivered locally.
Christine Goldsworthy, who was living with breast cancer, has strong feelings about Taranaki Base Hospital's new Linear accelerator (LINAC) radiation therapy machine.
"Just for me that machine in there means I don't have to go to Palmerston North, away from everybody who supports me. For me the thought of having to go to Palmerston North again is just horrific.
"I want to hug that machine in there because that means we don't have to do that. We can be here and have treatment and sleep in our own bed at night. It makes me want to cry every time I think about it."
Christine Goldsworthy wanted to hug the LINAC radiation machine which means she'll no longer have to travel to Palmerston North for treatment. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Diagnosed in June, Christine had already done several courses of chemotherapy at Taranaki Base Hospital's existing Oncology Department.
"I don't know if you guys have been to that room over there but it's tiny and there's six chairs and two beds and I've watched the staff work and they are run off their feet and they are shimmying around trying to get in and out of the chairs and around people.
"This is just night and day. It's just amazing and they deserve this building."
As well as the LINAC machine, the new centre had 10 chemotherapy chairs, eight outpatient family rooms, two isolation rooms and dedicated spaces to support patients and family members through their treatment journey.
When fully up and running 80 percent of radiation treatments would be done locally.
Hannah Watson and partner Neil Goode check out the LINAC machine at the new Taranaki Cancer Centre. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Hannah Watson was living with Hodgkin Lymphoma.
"We have had to go for scans in Wellington but that's only been three times since I've started. That takes a whole day if not longer to recover from.
"I get out of breath just walking around the house, so any kind of big trip actually it takes just so much more energy to survive when you're trying to fight off something in your body that's not right."
She was grateful not to have to make the trip to Palmerston North.
"There's been times throughout my cancer journey where I've thought I don't have anything left to give it. I can't do this. And so for me to have those thoughts about driving three hours somewhere to get something I need, I couldn't have done that.
"This is such a lovely space to be in and while you're going through something so difficult it is nice to have something, you know, the little wins."
Base Hospital service manager oncology Claudia Matthews. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Taranaki Service manager for oncology Claudia Matthews said the new centre was a far cry from what she inherited when she took on the role.
"When I came over from Australia and took over the cancer services here we had four nurses, three clinical nurse specialists, a doctor and an administrator in a non-purpose-built facility which was an old hospice trying to function and deliver cancer services."
Health Minister Simeon Brown checks out the LINAC machine at the Taranaki Cancer Centre. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Matthews said the Taranaki Cancer Centre would be life changing after three decades of shipping patients out of region.
"It's a bit of a glum trip to be sitting in that van with patients going into Palmerston North for five minutes to have your radiation treatment.
"The benefit here is you can turn up, perhaps go to work in the morning so your employment is not impacted, you can look after your children.
"So, you can come have your treatment, go home rest in your own home and be surround by those folk who support you."
Matthews said although the staff at Palmerston North had done a wonderful job supporting Taranaki patients there was nothing like being treated close to home.
Christine Goldsworthy says being able to get radiation treatment in New Plymouth would be life changing for her and partner Wayne. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Beyond radiation therapy the Taranaki Cancer Centre would be a one stop shop for oncology services.
"So you can come here and have a consultation, you can go see a dietician, have a catch up with your clinical nurse, cancer nurse specialist and see your oncologist where currently the cancer team is spread far and wide."
Health Minister Simeon Brown - who opened the centre - said it marked a major milestone for patients and families across Taranaki.
"It delivers modern, patient-focused cancer care in a purpose-built facility designed to meet the region's needs, now and into the future."
Simeon Brown (left) opened the centre. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
Brown said the Taranaki Cancer Centre was in addition to the wider $462.6 million redevelopment of Taranaki Base Hospital, which was modernising and expanding healthcare infrastructure across the region.
That included the new East Wing building which was nearing completion and offered increased capacity and state-of-the-art facilities for both patients and clinicians.
"We are focused on building a modern, resilient, and future-ready health system for New Zealanders."
The Taranaki Health Foundation and Toi Foundation provided funding for fit out of the Cancer Centre totalling in the millions of dollars.
Health Minister Simeon Brown chats with Hannah Watson in one of the chemotherapy rooms at the new Taranaki Cancer Centre. Photo: RNZ / Robin Martin
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