Parliamentary Speeches
LISMORE BASE HOSPITAL RADIOTHERAPY UNIT ( 09/11/2007)
Mr DONALD PAGE (Ballina) [5.27 p.m.]: I bring to the attention of the House the issue of the proposed radiotherapy unit for Lismore Base Hospital. The honourable members representing the Lismore and Clarence electorates and I are extremely supportive of the establishment of an integrated cancer care unit at Lismore Base Hospital. The member for Lismore and I were part of a delegation, which included the former member for Page, Ian Causley, Dr Austin Curtin and Vahid Saberi, who met with the Federal health Minister Tony Abbott in Sydney in April 2004 to get Federal money for the project.
Subsequently the Federal Minister and the former New South Wales Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer), Mr Sartor, announced that a jointly funded $16 million radiotherapy unit would be built at Lismore. The proposal was to build the unit on the site that currently houses the Richmond Clinic Mental Health Unit once the new mental health facility was completed. I must stress that this radiotherapy unit will be a regional facility catering for people on the coast in my electorate as well as inland in the seat of Lismore and beyond. Unfortunately, the new mental health facility is taking longer to put in place than anticipated which has in turn delayed the construction of the radiotherapy unit. Lack of action by the State Government is the main cause of this delay.
The capital budget for the radiotherapy unit has now increased from $16 million to $23 million. It was hoped that construction of the radiotherapy unit could commence at the completion of the mental health facility, due in 2008. However, the State Labor Government has failed to allocate any funding in the budget handed down this year, effectively dashing the hopes of our region that the unit would become a reality in the timeframe originally envisaged at the time of the joint announcement by the Federal and State Ministers back in 2004. The failure of the State Labor Government to provide funding in its latest budget comes despite the Premier stating in this Chamber in November 2005 that his Government had a commitment to ``ongoing investment in the infrastructure and service development of Lismore Base Hospital``. Clearly, we need to get on with this project quickly. Both the State and Federal governments must maintain their commitment to the project, even though its projected cost has increased because of delays.
Public cancer patients who are living in the North Coast region of New South Wales and who are undergoing radiotherapy treatment must travel for treatment to Coffs Harbour, which is over 300 kilometres away; to Brisbane, which is over 400 kilometres away; or to Sydney, which is over 1,000 kilometres away. They must pay for the cost of travel and accommodation for what is usually six weeks treatment. Sadly, some patients choose not to have any treatment because of the distance and costs involved. Private cancer patients must travel for radiotherapy to the Gold Coast, which over 200 kilometres away. That is an extremely expensive treatment, as an outpatient service is not covered by any current private health fund. Radiotherapy treatment often involves a minimum of 60 seconds daily for 31 days over six weeks. Unfortunately, as I said earlier, some people choose not to have treatment at all for that reason.
The Northern Rivers region is a low-income area. The ratio of public patients to private patients in this area is approximately 65 per cent public and 35 per cent private. A radiotherapy unit is an extremely important piece of infrastructure critical to cancer sufferers and their families. In this region in excess of 1,700 people are diagnosed with cancer each year, and that number is growing. The New South Wales State Government promised that stage two of the Lismore Base Hospital redevelopment would be completed by January 2008. Clearly, that will not be the case.
Cancer sufferers from the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales need a radiotherapy unit now. Having inspected the excellent radiotherapy facilities at Coffs Harbour I am more determined than ever to see similar facilities located at Lismore Base Hospital. As I said, the current situation means that local residents requiring radiotherapy treatment under the public system must travel to Brisbane, Coffs Harbour or Sydney. The requirement to travel large distances adds to the stress of dealing with a diagnosis of cancer.
The 2002 Commonwealth radiation oncology report identified the Northern Rivers area as one of the top three areas nationally needing better oncology services. That is because of population growth, the ageing profile of that population, high cancer rates, low utilisation rates for radiation oncology, lack of access to radiotherapy services and the need for significant travel by patients and family. The report recommended that three machines would be required to meet the demand of the Northern Rivers area. As far back as 2002 the radiotherapy unit had the support of nine local mayors, the regions, State and Federal members of Parliament, and 16,000 local residents who put their names to a petition. Those local residents are continuing their campaign of petitioning as a result of the failure of this Labor Government to provide funding for stage two of the redevelopment process in its latest budget.
I am strongly supportive of the Integrated Cancer Care Unit for Lismore Base Hospital as it is a much-needed regional facility. I will continue to lobby both the State and Federal governments to maintain their joint commitment to the project and to bring it to fruition as soon as possible. I note that Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile today announced that, if re-elected, the Federal Coalition Government would add $2 million to the $8 million it has already committed to help to fund this project. Funding will be provided on condition that the State Government commences construction in 2008. That would mean completion of the project by 2009. I call on the State Government to commit to this project and to expedite its construction as a matter of urgency.
