Cancer patients in northern NSW will next year have access to a public radiotherapy service and a new integrated cancer care service much closer thanks to the Morrison Joyce Government’s $5 million investment to make the new facilities a reality.
Visiting the site of the new Tweed Valley Hospital today, Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie and The Nationals Candidate for Richmond, Kimberly Hone said this fully funded project would make it easier for local patients to access radiotherapy closer to home.
Minister Gillespie, a former regional doctor, said the funding will deliver a new linear accelerator and CT scanner for CT-simulation and associated stabilisation equipment at the new Tweed Valley Hospital, which will be commissioned in 2023.
“A cancer diagnosis is a stressful time for patients and their families, so having a service based here in the Tweed at the new hospital will mean one less thing to worry about when accessing treatment,” Dr Gillespie said.
“Establishing a local public radiotherapy service in the Tweed Valley will mean there is no longer a 100-kilometre return drive for treatment for people living with cancer in these communities, who currently have to rely on cross-border hospitals, which proved problematic during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt said the Morrison Joyce Government’s investment would make vital cancer services more accessible to the communities in the northern NSW region.
“This investment in radiation therapy services will mean patients can access a range of services in one place, at no or low out of pocket expense,” Minister Hunt said.
“Expenses will be minimised through bulk billing for all radiation oncology consultations, follow-up appointments, nursing and allied health support, radiation therapy treatment planning, treatment, and imaging activities.”
Tweed State Nationals MP, Geoff Provest said the biggest NSW health infrastructure project ever undertaken outside Sydney, was about to get even better.
“I’m always happy to work with my federal Liberal and Nationals friends to get things done locally,” Mr Provest said.
Ms Hone welcomed the announcement saying she was pleased the Morrison Joyce Government was committed to providing better access to health services such as radiotherapy in northern NSW.
“This partnership between the Liberal Nationals in NSW and Federal Government is exactly what my Positive Choices agenda is all about,” Ms Hone said.
“It not only brings better health services to locals who most need them, it protects them from arbitrary Labor border closures that left so many patients stranded last year.”
Dr Gillespie said about one-third of people with cancer in Australia live outside our major cities and having better access to treatment will save lives and improve health outcomes for those Australians.
“That’s why we are continuing to invest in expanding cancer treatment capacity in regions throughout regional Australia, including here in the Tweed.”
The CT scanner and associated stabilisation equipment is funded as part of the $45.5 million Fighting Cancer program in the 2019-20 Budget.