This new facility, expected to be operational in approximately three years, will integrate state-of-the-art technology, including a cyclotron and proton therapy equipment. Its implementation will mark a milestone in oncological care for the archipelago, centralizing highly complex services for patients from all islands.
“"It will represent a qualitative leap in the management of cancer patients in the Canary Islands."
The head of the hospital's Radiation Oncology Service, Marta Lloret, highlighted that the building will feature two fundamental areas. One will house the cyclotron, a machine dedicated to producing radioisotopes, radioactive substances essential for diagnostic tests and nuclear medicine treatments. This technical space will eliminate dependence on daily flights from Madrid for radioisotope supply, allowing for a doubling of diagnostic tests such as positron emission tomography (PET) scans.
The second main area of the bunker will be dedicated to proton therapy, a high-precision radiotherapy modality that uses protons to destroy tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues. This section will include spaces for direct patient care, with medical and nursing consultations, simulation areas, and waiting rooms, designed with separate circuits for adults and children.
Currently, about 20 Canarian patients per year are referred to private centers on the peninsula for proton therapy treatments. The incorporation of this technology at Doctor Negrín Hospital, donated by the Amancio Ortega Foundation, will significantly reduce this need, particularly benefiting patients with pediatric tumors or those located in sensitive areas such as the brain.
The building's design, which will take advantage of the terrain's slope, will feature two above-ground floors and two lower levels. Patient care and treatment areas will be located on the upper levels, while technical and facility areas will occupy the semi-basements. The humanization of the space has been prioritized, incorporating a large glazed and accessible central interior patio that will serve as a waiting area, along with smaller patios for staff, ensuring natural light and ventilation.
