New Cancer Equipment Approved

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30626, 17 December 1964, Page 7

New Cancer Equipment Approved

The purchase and installation of a linear accelerator for cancer treatment in the radiotherapy department of the Christchurch Hospital have been approved in principle by the Health Department. The machine is expected to cost between £40,000 and £60,000. The cost of accommodating it is not known as no decision has been made on whether or not a new building will be necessary. The North Canterbury Hospital Board, in seeking permission to buy the linear accelerator, asked also for an oxygen barotherapy chamber (a chamber for the treatment of patients under high-pres-sure oxygen) to be used in conjunction with the accelerator. The barotherapy chamber application was refused, however, on the ground that this form of treatment was still in the developmental stage and that the department was not allowed to approve the spending of public money on research in hospitals. The board decided to prepare a case for acquiring the barotherapy equipment from sources other than Government funds. An inquiry will be made by the. board’s finance committee to find what trust funds might be applied to the purpose, and the balance will be sought from Golden Kiwi profits. The equipment is estimated to cost about £BOOO. Among the trust funds available will be a bequest for “radium apparatus” from Mr A. J. Clarkson.

The board asked for the accelerator and oxygen barotherapy equipment after receiving a report from Dr. A. M. Goldstein, of the radiotherapy department, on the latest developments in radiotherapy overseas. Dr. Goldstein visited the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Australia during study leave in 1962.