Cancer infusion service expands in West Auckland amidst national rollout

This is the first community-based cancer infusion centre in West Auckland.

Health New Zealand opened a new infusion service in Henderson on 11 May, at Te Whānau o Waipareira’s Whānau Centre, marking the first community-based cancer infusion centre in West Auckland, New Zealand.

The programme shifts cancer treatment closer to patients’ communities and increases local access to care, reducing the need for patients to travel to Auckland City Hospital for infusion treatment.

Health Minister Simeon Brown said in a press release that the facility will operate five days a week with four treatment chairs and is expected to support about 45 to 50 patients each week.

The programme includes 14 new infusion centres and the expansion of 14 existing sites across the country.

The Henderson centre follows the opening of an infusion unit at Waitākere Hospital last month and forms part of a national expansion of community-based cancer care.

Health New Zealand plans to deliver about 13,000 additional cancer infusions in 2025/26, a 12% increase on previous volumes.

Budget 2024 provides about $125.0m (NZ$210m) for infrastructure upgrades, equipment and workforce expansion, whilst Pharmac has provided around $359.5m (NZ$604m) funding increase to support additional treatment capacity.

(US$1 = NZ$1.68)