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PDF printable version of Eleven New Chemotherapy Units for Country SA (PDF 21 KB)

18 May 2010

The Australian Government will provide $5.4 million to establish chemotherapy units in ten country South Australian hospitals: Gawler, Mt Barker, Mt Gambier, Port Augusta, Victor Harbor, Clare, Murray Bridge, Northern Yorke Peninsula, Naracoorte and Port Lincoln

This statewide network will provide a total of 54 new chemotherapy chairs or beds under the regional cancer centres initiative that is delivering improved cancer services for rural and regional patients nationwide.

The Australian Government will invest a total of $69.8 million in new cancer infrastructure including a new regional cancer centre at Whyalla. The South Australian Government will contribute $15 million towards the Whyalla project, bringing the total investment to $84.8 million.

In addition to the country chemotherapy units, the ‘Regional Cancer Services, South Australia’ project includes:

• $7.6 million for an additional linear accelerator and radiotherapy bunker at Lyell McEwin Hospital in northern Adelaide. This expanded facility will provide radiotherapy services for rural and regional cancer patients.
• $2.48 million for the development of a digital tele-health network to create real time linkages between the Whyalla regional cancer centre, country general hospitals and metropolitan cancer service partners.

The regional cancer centres initiative is part of the Government’s plan to build a world-class cancer care system in Australia that will enable rural and regional Australians to have better access to essential cancer services, deal more effectively with cancer treatment challenges, and live longer with a better quality of life.

With some cancers, patients from rural areas are up to three times more likely to die within five years of diagnosis than their counterparts in urban areas. This joint investment of $84.8 million will work towards improving cancer services and care for the more than 8,000 SA residents newly diagnosed with cancer each year.

The SA announcement forms part of the Rudd Government's $560 million commitment to establish a national network of best practice regional cancer centres so that Australians can get care closer to home and their community.

Since coming into office, the Government has committed over $2.3 billion for cancer infrastructure, medicines, screening and research.

Today's announcement also shows the benefit of the federal Government stepping up to the plate and providing funding for health services across Australia.

Under the National Health and Hospitals Network, the Rudd Government would provide 60 per cent of the funding for capital upgrades for public hospitals.

The Rudd Government's plan will see health services funded nationally 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.

6 Chemotherapy chairs in each of the following sites:

Whyalla regional cancer centre
Mt Gambier Hospital
Pt Augusta Hospital
Mt Barker Hospital
South Coast District Hospital (Victor Harbor)

4 chemotherapy chairs in each of the following sites:

Pt Lincoln Hospital
Clare Hospital
Murray Bridge Hospital
Gawler Hospital
Northern Yorke Peninsula Regional Health Service
Naracoorte Health Service

For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220