First chemotherapy unit now open at St Bernard's Hospital
The new chemotherapy unit at St Bernard’s Hospital was officially opened by chief minister Fabian Picardo on Wednesday, and is now open for patients who need this form of treatment to combat cancer.
At the inauguration the Minister for Health, Dr John Cortes, said he was delighted that Gibraltar was able, for the first time ever, to deliver this kind of treatment: “There is no doubt of the benefits to Gibraltar patients for the repatriation of chemotherapy treatments to St Bernard’s Hospital. Patients presenting with solid malignant tumours no longer need travel to another country such as Spain or the UK in order to receive their chemotherapy treatment. This removes the stress of travel and dependence on others for transport. The new unit also means local, in-house support for cancer patients and family members,” he explained.
Dr Cortes and Mr Picardo both expressed their appreciation of the philanthropic gesture by Mrs Margaret Ayling, who funded the capital works and equipment in memory of her late husband Leslie and her parents, Anthony and Lucia Buttigieg. The new facility has been named the Ayling-Buttigieg Chemotherapy Unit.
The chief minister described Wednesday as a “red letter day” for Gibraltar and said the new chemotherapy unit was a “huge step forward.”
The unit contains five clinical couches, a consultation room, a drugs preparation room with gowning area, and a waiting and reception area. It will be run by the commissioned clinical oncology team from the Xanit hospital in Benalmádena, where some cancer patients from Gibraltar have previously had to go for treatment.source surinenglish