CALGARY – Funding for a new cancer care centre in Calgary is expected to be part of the next provincial budget, but the health department’s hint that it’s likely to be on the South Health Campus rather than Foothills Hospital campus has some people concerned.
Alberta Health Minister Stephen Mandel said the centre would cost less to build at the South Health campus, though he’s not sure how much could be saved.
“We’re getting that right now. We think a lot,” said Mandel.
The change could potentially save hundreds of millions of dollars, because the cancer hospital would go on top of the existing teaching hospital—no new digging or foundation required.
“The facility will be able to be built quicker – if we build it, okay. There’s still budgetary constraints that we have,” he added.
But not everyone is happy about the potential change in location.
“Why the change in location now after almost $20 million has been spent in scoping a comprehensive cancer centre to be built at the Foothills Hospital site?” asked John Osler, from the Concerned Citizens for the Calgary Cancer Centre group. Osler said South Health Campus was rejected partly because Foothills Hospital is closer to life-saving cancer research at the University of Calgary.
Watch Mia Sosiak’s story above to see what the Canadian Cancer Society thinks of the plans, and what one Calgary couple battling cancer hopes for the new centre, based on their experience trying to access care so far.
With files from Erika Tucker
Comments