$42 Million for New and Enhanced Regional Cancer Services in Ballarat
The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon and Member for Ballarat, Catherine King have announced that Ballarat will benefit from a $42 million investment from the Commonwealth Government’s $560 million Regional Cancer Centre initiative.
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Previous MinistersJoint Release
The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
Ms Catherine King MP
Member for Ballarat
7 April 2010The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon and Member for Ballarat, Catherine King today announced that Ballarat will benefit from a $42 million investment from the Commonwealth Government’s $560 million Regional Cancer Centre initiative.
The Victorian Government is also committed to providing $13 million now the Rudd Government investment is confirmed – bringing the total for the project to $55 million.
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 Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon said that survival rates for people suffering from cancer are 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 such as the one we will build here in Ballarat 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,” said Ms Roxon
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 and works in partnership with the states.
The announcement builds 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
- $1m for the installation of digital reading mammography equipment at BreastScreen Victoria’s service located within the St Vincent’s Hospital, Monash Medical Centre and Royal Melbourne Hospital
- $1.4m to upgrade to digital mammography imaging equipment at BreastScreen Victoria’s La Trobe Regional Hospital and East Bentleigh service.
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.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220
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