History
The cancer clinic was established in 1987, at what was then the Regional Hospital in Trondheim. From mainly being an in-patient clinic, the clinic has transformed to a more policlinic practice with a significant reduction of in-patient beds. Today the clinic is organisationally divided into the following departments: out-patient clinic, in-patient clinic, radiotherapy, education/research and palliative care.
Profile
The centre has two wards, one oncologic and one palliative, with 24 and 12 beds respectively. Most beds are located in single rooms.
In total the centre employs more than 200 people, including physicians, nurses, assistant nurses, radiotherapists, physicists, secretaries, researchers and administrative personnel.
A primary aim of the centre is to treat the patient as close to his/her home as possible. Therefore, one of the most important services provided is an extensive collaboration with the primary health care services both in the patient’s home and at local nursing homes.
At the hospital, patients are offered high quality treatment based on international guidelines and with the best available technological equipment.
Specialties
A close collaboration with the primary health care system is necessary to ensure good patient follow-up at all levels. This includes GP’s, home care nursing staff and local nursing homes.
All oncologists at the centre are trained in palliative care and radiotherapy as a part of their specialist education. In addition, both oncological and palliative care clinicians share the same education and rotation system. Similarly, a large proportion of our nurses are specialized in oncology and/or palliative care.
One of our most pronounced aims is an integration between the clinic and research activity both locally and in national and international collaborations. Consultants are expected to take a PhD, and junior registrars are also heavily involved in clinical studies.
Palliative and Supportive Care
The palliative care department is fully integrated with the oncological department of the clinic, both geographically and with regards to supportive services, such as laboratories, radiotherapy etc.
The department is organised as a 12-bed ward and an out-patient clinic. The latter performs both policlinic consultations and supervision at other hospital departments, nursing homes and at the patient’s home. As a part of a university clinic, the department has an advisory function for the entire health care region.
A regional centre for palliative care is also affiliated with the department, which is responsible for palliative education and research on a regional basis. On an international level this is attended to by our collaboration with the European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC).
Last update: August 2022
