$65 Million Regional Cancer Centre Project for Albury
Albury Wodonga patients will benefit further from national health reform with the announcement that the Australian Government will fund a $65 million integrated regional cancer centre project through the 2011-12 Budget.
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Joint Release
The Hon Wayne Swan MP
Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer
The Hon Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
The Hon Simon Crean MP
Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development
and Local Government
3 May 2011Albury Wodonga patients will benefit further from national health reform with today’s announcement that the Gillard Government will fund a $65 million integrated regional cancer centre project through the 2011-12 Budget.
The new centre will consolidate and expand existing cancer services in the region and build on the cancer treatment facilities at the Albury Campus of Albury Wodonga Health (previously Albury Base Hospital).
“Reducing people’s chance of getting cancer and, treating it earlier and more effectively, are key priorities for the Gillard Government through national health reform,” Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government Simon Crean said.
“This new centre will transform the way patients in the Murray and Hume regions access specialist cancer services. In particular, this project shows how the Australian Government can deliver important projects that cross state borders and would be otherwise difficult for an individual state government to deliver on their own.
“This is part of Labor’s ongoing commitment to improving regional health services and helping regional Australians to see and contact a doctor closer to home.”
Minister for Health and Ageing Nicola Roxon said the number of beds for inpatients would be increased from 18 to 30 and the number of spaces for day patients receiving oncology and haematology services would also be raised from 18 to 30.
“The new project will join 22 other regional cancer centre projects around the country that will be linked to world class hubs in Melbourne and Sydney,” Minister Roxon said.
“Improvements will include a third linear accelerator for radiation therapy and space for a fourth in future. The existing radiotherapy equipment will also be upgraded and there will be a whole new chemotherapy suite for children and young people.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer Wayne Swan said Albury Wodonga Health had successfully applied for funding for the cancer centre from the Government’s Health and Hospitals Fund (HHF). The application was assessed by the independent HHF Advisory Board and found to satisfy the funding requirements.
“This new cancer centre and many other projects around Australia being funded from the Fund’s Regional Priority Round will help regional hospitals to cope with an expected increase in demand for services over coming years,” Mr Swan said.
“These projects will not only greatly improve access to quality health care, but will stimulate local economies and create jobs.
“The Government has committed $5 billion to the HHF as part of its national health reform agenda.”
Media Contacts:
Deputy Prime Minister: 02 6277 7340
Minister Roxon: 02 6277 7220
Minister Crean: 0403 369 588
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