$42 million for regional cancer centre
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon and Member for Ballarat Catherine King today announced Ballarat would benefit from a $42 million investment from the Commonwealth Government’s $560 Million Regional Cancer Centre program.
Funding for Ballarat Hospital will allow for:
Two linear accelerators;
Re-location of one linear accelerator from St John of God Hospital;
Four radiotherapy bunkers;
16 chemotherapy chairs; and
A CT scanner.
The Government’s investment will greatly enhance cancer services for the region and will allow for new capacity for chemotherapy treatment and follow-up support through the establishment of a Wellness Centre.
The Victorian Government is also committed to providing $13 million towards the project - making the total investment $55 million.
Ms Roxon said survival rates for people suffering from cancer were lower in regional and rural communities, with patients living in rural and remote areas across Australia three times more likely to die within five years of diagnosis than their urban counterparts.
Ms Roxon said: “While Australia has better overall cancer survival rates than comparable countries, there is still unacceptable variation for some people, depending on the type of cancer, a person’s socioeconomic status or where they live.
“It is of great concern that for the 30 per cent of Australians living in rural and remote areas, outcomes are worse than for people living in the city.
“Investment in regional cancer centres will enable rural and regional Australians to have better access to essential cancer services closer to home and deal more effectively with cancer treatment challenges.”
Ms King said that she was pleased the hard work of her community had paid off with today’s announcement.
“The proposal submitted by our local health authority was of a very high quality,” Ms King said.
“Additionally, this was a project which had massive community support.
“My office received letters, faxes and emails from across the electorate and beyond from cancer suffers and their families and friends. I’m delighted that their passion and interest in this project has brought forth such a positive result.
“Today’s investment will mean there will be local capacity for 828 additional patients per year to receive radiotherapy services, as well as capacity for 8,000 additional chemotherapy treatments per year in Ballarat.
“Ballarat will also receive enhanced diagnostic services through the provision of a CT scanner to support radiotherapy treatment.”
A network of regional cancer centres that expands services and links with specialised cancer centres in metropolitan areas will better support and service all Australians and help close the gap in cancer outcomes between urban and regional Australians.
The funding announced today will work towards improving the services and care for the more than 22,900 Victorian residents diagnosed with cancer each year.
Today’s announcement shows what can be achieved when the Australian community has a Federal Government who will make investments to enhance health services across the country.
They also build on work already done to invest in cancer services across Victoria:
* $426.1m for the new Parkville Comprehensive Cancer Centre (matched by the State Government)
* $15m towards establishing the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre at the Austin Hospital
* $7.5m to set up a dedicated prostate cancer research centre at the Epworth Hospital in Melbourne
* Funding to recruit, train and employ new breast cancer nurses in Shepparton, Benalla, Ballarat, Horsham, Geelong, Warrnambool, Colac, Warragul, Bairnsdale, Sale and Swan Hill
* $1 Million for installation of digital reading mammography equipment at St Vincent’s Hospital, Monash Medical Centre and the Northern Hospital
* $700,000 to replace analogue with digital at La Trobe Regional Hospital (Gippsland)
* $700,000 to replace analogue with digital Mammography equipment in Moorabbin
Under the National Health and Hospital plan, the Rudd Government would take over 60 per cent of funding for capital upgrades for hospitals.
The Rudd Government’s plan will see health services funded federally and run locally through local hospital networks to deliver better outcomes for local communities.
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