25/6/2009

Need for Tweed cancer treatment services confirmed by Auditor's Report

“...absence of radiation therapy services forcing patients to re-mortgage their homes...”

25 June 2009

Need for Tweed cancer treatment services confirmed by Auditor's Report “...absence of radiation therapy services forcing patients to re-mortgage their homes...”

Tweed Nationals MP Geoff Provest has seized on a new Audit Office of New South Wales report to renew calls for improved cancer treatment services at the Tweed Hospital.

In its 23 June “Tackling Cancer with Radiotherapy” report, the Audit Office says significant improvements are needed when providing radiotherapy services to combat the rising incidence of cancer. (source: http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/publications/reports/performance/2009/radiotherapy/media_release_radiotherapy.pdf )

“The absence of radiation therapy services at Tweed Heads is forcing local patients to either re-mortgage their homes and go private or in some alarming cases forego treatment altogether.”

“Radiation treatment is delivered via linear accelerators which cost between $3.5 and $5-million each.” “There are currently about 3,500 cancer patients in the Tweed but this figure swells to 6,000 when you include sufferers in the southern Gold Coast catchment of the Tweed Hospital.”

“Tweed patients have to travel to Coffs Harbour or Brisbane for radiation therapy treatment. The Tweed Hospital does buy some radiation therapy services from John Flynn Private Hospital but demand massively outstrips supply and many patients face out of pocket expenses.”