TORONTO, Canada — As part of its plan to build a stronger, more resilient healthcare system that is better prepared to respond to crisis, the Ontario government is investing $17.1 million to expand healthcare services at University Health Network (UHN). This investment includes up to $5 million to plan for Canada’s first-ever hospital-based proton beam therapy facility, which will provide innovative lifesaving cancer treatment to patients.
“Our government is building a stronger, more resilient health care system that ensures all Ontarians have access to the high-quality care they need and deserve,” said Christine Elliott, deputy premier and minister of health. “By investing in UHN’s new proton beam therapy facility, we are bringing innovative new technology to Ontario, making it easier and more convenient for patients to receive treatment close to home.”
Proton beam therapy is an advanced form of cancer treatment that delivers radiation therapy to targeted tumour cells, reducing radiation to surrounding healthy tissues. Patients who receive this innovative treatment may have fewer long-term side effects, especially children with brain tumours and adults with certain types of cancer.
“We are thrilled we will be able to offer this innovative treatment to SickKids patients through UHN’s proton beam therapy facility. Proton therapy is a particularly effective option for children and youth who have brain tumours or other types of cancer that originate in difficult to treat areas. While significant progress has been made in treating children and youth with brain cancer, this advanced therapy helps to avoid some of the negative consequences of cancer treatment. With proton therapy, clinicians are able to minimize harm to healthy regions of the brain, leading to better brain health outcomes and other quality-of-life benefits following cancer treatment,” said Dr Ronald Cohn, president and CEO, The Hospital for Sick Children.
Currently, Canada does not have a hospital-based proton beam therapy facility, meaning that patients who require proton beam therapy treatment must travel to the United States to receive care. UHN’s new proton beam therapy facility will bring this lifesaving treatment to Canada so that patients can receive high-quality care when they need it provided by world-class health care professionals closer to home.
The proton beam therapy facility would include up to five treatment suites to support approximately 1,500 paediatric and adult patients annually. Ontario is working with the Proton Therapy Planning Group, a collaboration between Ontario Health–Cancer Care Ontario, the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario, The Hospital for Sick Children and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre – University Health Network on further planning to help address the health care needs of patients and families.
In addition, to further support high-quality care and build a stronger health care system, up to $12.1 million will be used to support UHN’s Hillcrest Reactivation Centre. The centre operates 75 transitional care beds to provide care to patients who are waiting to move from a hospital to home, community or long-term care. This funding will support key renovations and improve existing infrastructure to ensure patients can continue to receive high-quality care in a comfortable environment.
“This significant and welcome investment by the Province of Ontario into UHN’s Hillcrest Reactivation Centre will greatly support patients who require an Alternate Level of Care following an acute illness. This investment will help us improve the way we care for those at the point of transition from a hospital to their community, ensuring that they have a supportive and comfortable setting to prepare to regain their independence. This will also improve the work environment for the dedicated staff who care for those who need their support and expertise,” said, Dr Kevin Smith president and CEO, University Health Network.
