History
The Comprehensive Cancer Centre – Vratsa (CCC - Vratsa) is the successor of the Inter-regional Cancer Dispensary – Vratsa founded in 1951. It provides diagnostics, anticancer treatment and after treatment follow up of adult cancer patients with solid tumours from the Northwest Bulgaria area of 10,300 Km2 and 450,000 inhabitants.
Profile
The structure of CCC-Vratsa is an inpatient hospital part that consists of : Surgical sector – surgery, urology, gynecology and ICU; Therapeutic sector – departments of medical oncology, radiotherapy , gastroenterology and palliative care; Day center and Diagnostic sector – visual diagnostics department, nuclear medicine, clinical pathology, clinical laboratory and statistics unit - Regional cancer register.
The outpatient consulting unit is structured by consulting cabinets – surgery, urology, gynecology, medical oncology, radiotherapy, gastroenterology, palliative care and cancer pain. Psychological and social support as well as support and rehabilitation for patients and families and bereavement support are carried out in “Centre for rehabilitation and support of cancer patients and their families”.
The CCC – Vratsa has 156 hospital beds. The palliative care department has 13 beds and in each of the other therapeutic departments at least two beds may be used in the case of palliative needs.
The medical team of CCC consists of 37 physicians, 90 nurses, psychologists, medical physicists, social worker, legal consultant and other personnel.
In Surgical sector are performed all types of surgical interventions with exception of thoracic and neurosurgical interventions. The surgical sector is a pioneer in endoscopic surgery for Northwest Bulgaria. The gastroenterology department performs all kinds of endoscopic treatment of tumors of the GI tract and radiofrequency ablation of the tumors of the parenchymal organs. Chemotherapy, target therapies and radiotherapy are performed in the department of medical oncology and department of radiotherapy. Treatment of cancer pain and supportive care, as well as palliative care and end of life care are provided in the palliative care department. There are many clinical trials performed in CCC.
All kinds of modern visual investigations – CT, MRI, SPECT are performed in the Visual diagnostics department and the department of nuclear medicine. The department of clinical pathology performs diverse tests. The Regional cancer register provides all necessary statistical information concerning medical condition and treatment of the patients from the Northwest part of the country. The hospital pharmacy deliver the necessary medication including opioids for the in and out patients. CCC closely collaborates with European palliative research networks. Telemedicine is well established in the hospital which is also a training ground for the students of Medical College – Vratsa in the fields of oncology and palliative medicine.
CCC- Vratsa provides all kinds of anticancer treatments, after treatment patient’s follow up, supportive and palliative care, rehabilitation, psychological, social, spiritual and legal support for cancer patients and their families. CCC – Vratsa actively takes part in cancer prevention and early diagnosis. The team of CCC takes part in research in the field of oncology, and collects necessary statistical data about cancer for Northwest Bulgaria. CCC-Vratsa provides opportunities for consulting patients and medical institutions in the fields of oncology onsite and by using the opportunities offered by telemedicine.
CCC – Vratsa is equipped with modern diagnostic and treatment facilities and from September 2014 will start to work the newest (in the country) linear accelerator. The hospital also provides 24 /7 broad band internet access for the patients completely free of charge.
CCC – Vratsa was accredited 5 stars by the National Accreditation Commission of the Bulgarian Ministry of Health in 2009 and by ISO 9001:2008 by Moody International.
Specialities
CCC-Vratsa operates in the following medical specialties : surgery, medical oncology, radiation therapy, urology, gastroenterology, obstetrics and gynecology, anesthesiology and intensive care, diagnostic imaging, general and clinical pathology, nuclear medicine and medical psychology, social medicine, rehabilitation, legal support.
Palliative and Supportive Care
Palliative care department of the CCC- Vratsa was established in 1998 and is the first hospital based palliative care facility in Bulgaria. The development the Palliative care department is a continuation of the first cabinet for treatment of cancer pain in Bulgaria founded in 1996. Now the department has 13 beds for inpatients 2 beds in the Day Centre and outpatient consulting unit – as well as cabinet for treatment of cancer pain. The established in 2010 of the “Centre for rehabilitation and support of cancer patients and their families” is part of the Palliative care department. The team of the department consists of a leading physician specialized in anesthesiology and palliative care and pain control, and a multi professional team of oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, neurologists, psychiatrist,, medical psychologist, nurses, social worker, legal consultant, Bulgarian orthodox priest and volunteers.
Last update: August 2023
