COBALT UNIT FOR HOSPITAL

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27636, 18 April 1955, Page 12

COBALT UNIT FOR HOSPITAL

DELIVERY IN SEPTEMBER POSSIBLE

For a time at least it is expected that the Christchurch Public Hospital’s cobalt unit will be one of the most powerful in the world. This was. stated at the week-end by Dr. A. M. Goldstein, radio-therapist at the hospital. The £30,000 cobalt 60 beam therapy unit is being given to the hospital by Sir Arthur Sims. Dr. Goldstein said that the hospital was very fortunate in that the radioactive cobalt source that had been promised by Canada was of tre strongest anywhere in the world, with a working figure of 2400 curies, as against the usual 1200 to 1500 curies used elsewhere, including Canada. The unit for Christchurch is designed for a potential of 3600 curies. At the rate of mqdem development it would be unwise to say that the unit would be the most powerful cobalt unit in the world, but it would be safe to say that it would be one of the most powerful, he said. • According to Dr. Goldstein there is no difficulty in securing delivery of the unit from Canada. It is possible to obtain it and the source by September if necessary. It is probable that the source will not be shipped until after the unit is installed. After loading several weeks will be required for calibration work and the measuring of the output and isotope characterisation; One or two physicists will accompany the unit from Canada to supervise its installation and initial operation.