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March 26, 2013
Your independent local newspaper
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Ph: 4325 7369
Issue 54
Central Coast Cancer Centre officially opened he $38.6 million Central Coast Cancer Centre officially opened to patients on Monday, March 25, and will provide enhanced cancer care services across the region.
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The Central Coast Cancer Centre encompasses new radiotherapy and expanded chemotherapy facilities at Gosford Hospital, as well as a satellite clinic and day oncology unit at Wyong Hospital. Patients will be able to receive the full spectrum of cancer services including intensive treatment, prevention, screening, palliative care and support care. The $38.6 million project was made possible by a $28.6 million contribution from the Australian Government’s Health and Hospitals Fund and $10 million from the NSW Government. Member for Robertson Ms Deborah O’Neill opened the centre and was joined by Health Minister Ms Jillian Skinner, Minister for the Central Coast Mr Chris Hartcher, Member for Gosford Mr Chris Holstein, Member for Wyong Mr Darren Webber and Member for The Entrance Mr Chris Spence. “The service will provide high quality and efficient cancer treatment such as radiotherapy services featuring a state of the art CT scanner and two linear
Minister for the Central Coast Mr Chris Hartcher, Member for Wyong Mr Darren Webber, Member for The Entrance Mr Chris Spence, Minister for Health Ms Jillian Skinner, Cancer Voices representative Ms Kathy Smith, Member for Robertson Ms Deborah O’Neill, Candles representative Ms Lyn Smith, Member for Gosford Mr Chris Holstein, Cancer services director Dr Campbell Tiley and Central Coast Local Health District chair Mr Paul Tonkin at the Cancer Centre ribbon cutting
accelerators providing pinpoint accuracy during treatment,” said Ms Skinner. “The two linear accelerators will have the capacity to treat close to 800 patients each year,” she said. Mr Hartcher said, “The new centre will include an area for professional development to educate the local workforce including teaching, training and research; a very important feature in an age of rapidly advancing technology, new drugs and improved treatment methods”. Mr Holstein said, “The facility will also feature
an information centre for patients, carers and staff, provided through a partnership arrangement with the Cancer Council”. Ms O’Neill said patients, families, and the local health community had been crying out for local cancer treatment for nearly 20 years. “Cancer patients on the Coast will now have access to cancer services of the highest standard right here in our region, reducing the need to suffer the pain and indignity of traveling to Sydney or Newcastle. “Having bulk billed treatment services here on
the Coast will also mean that patients and their families won’t need to make the tough decision to mortgage their homes or get a loan to pay for private treatment. “All Australians with cancer should have access to the right care, close to their homes and loved ones, irrespective of where they live or their social circumstances. “I commend the work of Kathy Smith of Cancer Voices, Lyn Smith from the Candles Cancer Support Group, as well as Paul Tonkin and Matt Hanrahan from Gosford Hospital for
their hard work in lobbying successive State and Federal Government to ensure that our locals have access to this vital service,” Ms O’Neill said. The Central Coast Cancer Centre includes three radiotherapy bunkers, two linear accelerators, radiotherapy planning and support areas, expansion of chemotherapy treatment spaces from 10 to 15, patient consultation areas, waiting and reception spaces, multi-disciplinary consulting rooms, cancer patient information and support services for patients, carers and
clinicians, refurbishment of existing space to accommodate multidisciplinary consulting accommodation at Wyong including waiting and reception functions and a range of associated treatment and planning equipment including one computed tomography (CT) scanner. Media Release, 24 Mar 2013 Richard Mehrtens, Office of Deborah O’Neill MP Media Release, 25 Mar 2013 Terry Hayes, Northern Sydney Central Coast Health