3/9/2009

Provest looks north for Tweed cancer help

“...cancer doesn't recognise State borders...”

Tweed Nationals MP Geoff Provest has told the NSW Parliament he is seeking help from Queensland Labor Health Minister Paul Lucas in his bid to bring radiation therapy services to the Tweed's 3,500 cancer patients.

“Cancer doesn't recognise State borders; the Tweed Hospital already serves 1500 Gold Coast cancer patients and we need to work with the Queensland Government for the benefit of sufferers on both side of the border,” Mr Provest said.

The move follows a Rally for Radiation Mr Provest conducted along with the NSW Cancer Council and the Tweed Hospital's senior oncologist at the Tweed Civic Centre last Friday.

The NSW Legislative Assembly heard Mr Provest recount some of the heartbreaking stories revealed at the Rally.

“Swimming legend Linda McGill recently had a battle with cancer that forced her, to fund her treatment, to sell some of the Olympic Games medals that she won at the Tokyo Olympics as a co-competitor of Dawn Fraser.”

“A young local baker has had to re-mortgage his house to fund private treatment because there are no public radiation therapy services on the Tweed.”

Mr Provest admitted in Parliament that he had cried when he heard the story of a 38-year-old single mother of three who is forgoing treatment altogether because she can't leave her children. “She is just going to continue looking after them until she dies,” Mr Provest said.

“I wrote to the Queensland Minister for Health, Paul Lucas, to arrange a meeting so that we could discuss organising a joint health facility.”

“I told the Queensland Minister that there should be no more hiding behind reports that vaguely identify the issues and that we should move forward.”