History
The Institute of Oncology was founded in 1938 in Ljubljana. It is a comprehensive national cancer centre, which carries out services required for cancer prevention and treatment, as well as rehabilitation and palliative care of cancer patients, it also provides for the balanced national progress of oncology and it has the oldest population – based cancer registry in Europe.
Profile
- 10 hospital wards
- 291 beds
- 1284 all employees: 240 medical doctors, 390 nurses (graduated, registered nurses, health care professionals, trained nurses), 265 scientists
- 156.976 patient’s visits in 2021
- 121.383 out-patients visits – follow up 2021
- 13.212 of first examination in 2021
- 16.180 admissions in 2021
- 51.106 number of hospital care days
- 3,16 average lengths of stay
Specialities
- Division of Diagnostics: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology, Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Department of Cytopathology, Department of Pathology
- Division of Surgery: Department of Surgical Oncology, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Department of Gynecologic Surgery
- Division of Radiation Oncology: Department of Teletherapy, Department of Brachytherapy, Department of Radiophysicis
- Division of Medical Oncology: Department for solid tumors, Department for lymphomas, Department for clinical trials
- Common Medical Services: Clinical Nutrition and Dieto-therapy, Oncological Genetic Counselling, Psycho-oncology, Neuro-oncology, Physiotherapy
- Division of Nursing and care for patients (Department of Inpatient Nursing and Care, Department of Outpatients nursing and Care, Department of Supportive Medical Services)
- Pharmacy, Research and Education (Department of Experimental Oncology)
Cancer treatment at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana is based on a multidisciplinary approach. This approach to treatment has been ensured through the management of patients by multidisciplinary teams of experts specializing in the treatment of a particular cancer type.
Palliative and Supportive Care
The philosophy of our team is to include palliative care as early as possible in the care of oncology patients according to their needs (patients and caregivers). Our specialised team works at the Department of Acute Palliative Care (7 beds), in the Outpatient Clinic for Early Palliative Care and as a support team for consultations at any other hospital department. Additionally, we provide residence visits and a network with GPs and home care services. We also support patients and health care professionals by phone support. (for anyone in need for palliative care advice 24/7 EX.) The aim of our team is to relieve physical symptoms (quickly and efficiently as possible EX) as well as provide psychological, spiritual and social support to patients in our care.
Comprehensive palliative care is performed by a multi-professional team: surgery, radiotherapy, medical oncology specialists and other health care provides working at the related departments, palliative care services (with three out of four full time physicians); pain control unit; psycho-oncology unit; health and social care counselling; spiritual support; clinical nutritional support (and dieto-therapy EX); physiotherapy; pharmacy (with clinical pharmacist included); and volunteers.
All members of the Specialised Palliative Care Team have additional trainings in palliative care.
The Specialised Palliative Care Team members provide several trainings for personnel employed at the Institute of Oncology and other health care institutions across the country.
The Department of Acute Palliative Care serves as a base for the education and research in palliative care in Slovenia.
Last update: February 2025