Toronto cancer hospital reaching capacity, will expand to new building [Video]

A Toronto hospital network says its cancer care services have reached capacity and it is expanding to a 15-storey building to handle more patients.

University Health Network (UHN) said Friday it purchased the building down the street from Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Toronto General Hospital for just over $79 million.

UHN President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kevin Smith said he hopes to increase outpatient volume by 20 per cent and add 10 to 20 new inpatient beds to their current count of 160.

Smith said they want to consolidate hospital services at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and dedicate the new building to doctors’ offices, research and classrooms for health-care learners.

Dr. Keith Stewart, director of Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, said the hospital has been close to full capacity since the pandemic ended with more than 19,000 new patients a year. Just in the last year, he said chemotherapy …