怪怪！ 癌症中心开幕，但13楼却空空如也成奇景

全新 “维州癌症综合医疗中心” (VECCC) 于上週日开幕，美国副总统拜登，在开幕前率先参观中心。但因何参观当天会出现第 13 楼空空如也的怪事呢 ? 原来这个维州癌症综合医疗中心是维州2011 年，自由党执政时期所签订批准的政策之一。

整个癌症中心除了有 160 张住院病床给长期病患、110 张临时病床、8 个手术室、2 个诊疗室、8 个放射治疗体外，还有诸多研发设施。

而后来继任的州长 Daniel Andrews 因取消原订建设在 13 楼的 Peter MacCallum 私人医疗中心后，却又想不到其它更有效的安排，此结果也导致 13 楼至今空空如也的奇怪景象。

取消 Peter Mac 私人医疗中心所带来的影响包括，减少 42 张住院病床、4 个手术室与每年至少 1 万名病患无法受惠于 Peter Mac 的治疗。

有鑑于此，即管癌症中心的开幕式是另人为之振奋的好消息， 但在 13 楼空置浪费的情况下，　消息虽好，却总还是让人参杂着一丝丝惋惜，一点点美中不足的複杂心情。

 

英文版/ English version

 

New cancer centre opens with empty 13th floor

 

The new Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre was opened last Sunday. US Vice-President, Joe Biden, toured the centre ahead of its official opening.

 

The contract to build the centre was awarded by the previous Victorian Coalition government in 2011. The VCCC provides 160 inpatient beds, 110 same-day beds, eight operating theatres, two procedure rooms and eight radiation therapy bunkers. It also has extensive research facilities.

 

Unfortunately, however, the centre has opened with its 13^th floor completely empty. This is because Premier Andrews cancelled the Peter MacCallum Private facility that was going to be located on the 13^th floor, and he has been unable to find an alternative use.

 

Scrapping the Peter Mac Private facility has meant the loss of 42 inpatient beds and 4 operating theatres. As a result Peter Mac will be able to treat 10,000 fewer patients a year.

 

So while the new VCCC will be good for Victoria, it should have been even better.