Hamilton Health Sciences’ Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre has officially opened a modernized stem cell unit to expedite high-quality cancer care for adult patients in Ontario.

Expanded facilities at the Ron and Nancy Clark Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapies Unit include: 15 new impatient beds, so more than 75 additional patients can access blood cancer treatments every year; five new treatment bays for hospital day patients, which bring the total number of treatment bays to 35; two new lounge areas for family and friends equipped with kitchens; and expanded lab and pharmacy space.

Back in 2019, the hospital received a $25 million provincial investment for the project. The hope, at the time, was to expand hospital capacity and alleviate hallway health care. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the expansion was completed and welcomed its first patients in November 2020. By March 2021, more than 122 stem cell transplants took place.

“With this additional capacity, Hamilton Health Sciences staff and physicians will continue to build on more than 50 years of pioneering treatment, research and innovation in this specialty area of care,” said Dr. Ralph Meyer, vice-president of oncology and palliative care at Hamilton Health Sciences, and regional vice-president of Cancer Care Ontario.  Expanding the reach of the program and its clinical expertise is tremendous news for patients across Ontario.”

The newly expanded stem cell unit is part of the province’s commitment to invest $22 billion in hospital projects across Ontario over the next 10 years that will lead to more than $30 billion in hospital infrastructure and expanded capacity to support high-quality patient care.

During COVID-19, Ontario increased the hospital’s operating funding for the third straight year, with more than $22.5 million in additional funding starting in 2021/22.This represents an increase of 2.5 per cent to the funding of over $910 million received by the hospital in 2020/21.

Photo by Hamilton Health Sciences