The Beagle Editor,
In April 2019, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health and Senator the Hon. Bridget McKenzie, Minister for Regional Services committed $63.4 million towards a federally funded initiative that will provide greater access, help and support for people fighting cancer.
This included funding for new centres that will deliver high quality, comprehensive radiation oncology services to 13 regional areas including the Eurobodalla.
This followed a pre-election commitment from the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Bill Shorten MP and Shadow Minister for Health and Medicare, the Hon Catherine King MP, to boost cancer services for people in the Eurobodalla by investing in a local radiation therapy facility.
In August 2020, the Minister for Health invited public and private service providers to apply for grants totalling $45.5 million, to develop regional radiation treatment centres for local cancer patients in ten regions across four states, including South Coast (Bega and Eurobodalla).
Tenders closed on Wednesday 7 October 2020.
In response to ONE - One New Euroboballa hospital’s inquiry to GrantConnect concerning Fighting Cancer - Regional Cancer Treatment Centres for Radiation Therapy (GO3613), we received the following response:
"The assessment process for the Fighting Cancer - Regional Cancer Treatment Centres for Radiation Therapy (GO3613) has concluded and the Minister, as the decision maker, has signed off on the initial outcomes of the assessment process. The Department is currently negotiating Funding Agreements with four shortlisted applicants for five of the ten eligible regions, including Bega/Eurobadalla (sic).
Applications have been received for all ten eligible regions advertised, including Bega/Eurobodalla. The Department is currently negotiating Funding Agreements with four shortlisted applicants for five of the ten eligible regions."
Due to the population of the South Coast of NSW, an application was not submitted for any portion of the proposed grants.
This proposal was doomed from the start as a promise that would never be fulfilled.
No consideration was made of any alternative or innovative models of care to improve the cancer services to the population of the South Coast of NSW.
The possibility of a private/public cooperative arrangement was rejected.
Our tithe of $4.55 million has been lost.
One half of cancer patients would benefit from radiotherapy but only 1/3 actually receive treatment.
It is estimated that approximately 30 women per year die in NSW from underutilisation of radiotherapy for breast cancer.
Many of these women would be geographically isolated.
There is no radiotherapy service on the 350km of the NSW coast south of Nowra.
Patients in the Eurobodalla are 2.5 - 3.5 hours from the nearest radiation oncology services in the ACT or Nowra.
There has not been a single radiotherapy consultation in the Eurobodalla or Bega since at least 2018.
25% of cancer services services in the ACT are provided to SNSWLHD residents.
The Eurobodalla has the highest aged population in Southern NSW and has the highest rate of:
- lung cancer
- colorectal cancer
- prostate cancer
- breast cancer
- pancreatic cancer
- cancer of unknown origin
The incidence of cancer in Southern NSW by 2024 is estimated to be 1710.
Ironically, we are discussing this unfulfilled promise following the announcement of the 2021 Federal Budget.
This commitment has been the only potential contribution by the Federal Government towards the new $200 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital.
Despite the persistent data regarding the needs of the Eurobodalla population, this is another example of the neglect of the region and the failure to implement potential initiatives including mental health services and tertiary health education facilities.
Despite the federal Women's Health Strategy, there still remains no local Continence Advisory Nurse or perinatal/early childhood mental health services for our community.
Our slice of the cake has been left on the plate for an innovative Local Health District or private provider to help their community.
The Eurobodalla is the Oliver Twist of the South Coast who continues to ask the master for gruel - “Please sir, I want some more”
Will the people of the Eurobodalla finally receive anything from the Federal Government to improve our local health services?
Dr Michael Holland
