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Galbraith announces £1 million modernisation for cancer services in Highlands
28/10/1998
Scottish Health Minister Sam Galbraith today announced a £1 million boost for Highland cancer services in Inverness.
The new money, allocated from the public purse, will provide a replacement radiotherapy suite at Raigmore Hospital. The hospital - one of the five major cancer centres in Scotland - provides cancer services for patients across the Highlands and Western Isles.
The additional £1 million will allow the hospital to begin to replace the present outdated equipment with a state-of-the-art linear accelerator. The new equipment will be up and running by 2001.
Speaking as he toured Raigmore's oncology unit, Mr Galbraith said:
"All across Scotland, patients are beginning to see the benefits of our investment in modernising the NHS. I am determined that patients, no matter where they live in Scotland, have access to better and faster treatment than ever before. That will be the real spin-off from the billions of extra resources we have found for the NHS.
"Cancer is one of our three main priorities within the NHS. That is why across Scotland, we spend more than £250 million each year in tackling this killer disease. Tackling it effectively, means tackling it with the best equipment. This extra £1 million will help Raigmore to push ahead with their plans to modernise services here in Inverness, which will also benefit patients as far away as Stornoway.
"The new radiotherapy equipment will provide much better care for patients - and much better outcomes. It will mean more accuracy in targeting radiation, better cosmetic results for those suffering from both breast and skin cancer, with fewer preparatory tests and less side effects. That is good news for patients".
News Release: 2209/98
28 October, 1998