Almost one year after presenting the ONE Eurobodalla Hospital 3000+ signatures Petition to the Local Member, the ONE Eurobodalla Hospital group returned last weekend to the Eurobodalla Health Expo to continue its fight for the community’s clearly expressed call for a proper single Regional hospital and for immediate and urgent addressal of the many gaps and shortfalls in their current Health Services.
Fitzroy and Mylene Boulting, ONE representatives at the Expo now ask the Premier and Local Member, Andrew Constance, to ensure equity to the Eurobodalla community for a promised $150 million hospital (with a built-in shortfall) asking why neighbouring Shoalhaven has been immediately assured $430 million: why the difference?
The Boulting said of their endeavours "We also understand that the $150 million allocated in the NSW State Budget towards the construction of a single new Eurobodalla regional hospital may not be released before 2023, and that there is still no date for commencement or completion of the new Eurobodalla hospital.
"Also the is no clinical plan as requested guaranteeing level 4 services equal to South East Regional Hospital, Bega or Goulburn Base Hospital and no site announced for the development of the new Eurobodalla regional hospital. "And last but not least there has been no action from the NSW Minister for Health to improve the immediate and dire situation of Accident & Emergency, Critical Care or Perioperative services as unambiguously called for in the Petition." In what appears to be building as a broken election promise the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP has offered the following update and responses regarding radiation oncology services on the South Coast. On behalf of the Minister the Assistant Secretary for the health Infrastucture branch has written (October 10th, 2019) "Through the 2019-20 Budget, the Australian Government is providing funding to expand cancer treatment capacity through new radiation therapy services in 13 regional areas. The South Coast (Bega/Eurobodalla) is one of the regions that will receive funding for a new centre. "The Department is currently planning the approach to deciding specific locations and support for these services, with funding to commence in 2020-21. Once completed, this will improve access to radiation therapy services for people in the region.
"In relation to waiting times for radiotherapy in Canberra, a new ICON Cancer Centre opened in Canberra on 19 February 2019. More recently, the Canberra Hospital announced the launch of two new additional linear accelerators on 9 September 2019.
"Under the Radiation Oncology Health Program Grants scheme, the Commonwealth has committed over $20.2 million to subsidise the cost of radiation oncology equipment at these two cancer treatment centres. These initiatives will contribute to reducing waiting times, and improve access to radiation oncology for people seeking treatment in Canberra.
On the 11th April 2019 The Nationals published the following:
In addition to the $6 billion a year the Liberal National Government provides for cancer treatments and services, we are investing $63.4 million to expand cancer treatment capacity through new radiation therapy services in 13 regional locations.
A long drive or bus trip for therapy means time, money and inconvenience for patients at this stressful time in their lives. Through this funding, we can help patients to overcome these issues, so they and their families can focus on what matters – fighting and beating cancer.
The Liberal National Government is committed to supporting regional Australia, and is working with key stakeholders to ensure that the investment is well targeted to support regional population centres that can service their surrounding areas.
The above was a clear election promise.... Vote for us and we will deliver.
At a State level there is also little being done. The September 5th, 2019 response of the NSW Minister for Health concerning radiation oncology services in the Eurobodalla is little short of buck passing from a Minister who appears to have little interest in chasing up the promises made by the now Federal Government. Mr Hazzard appears happy to continue to send South Coast patients to Canberra or Nowra. So much for the now apparent empty promises for a new centre that will deliver high quality, comprehensive radiation oncology services in the following areas;
NSW – South Coast (Eurobodalla), Grafton/Clarence Valley, Tweed region.
Above: Mr Hazzard advises Eurobodalla resident s there are other options such as Canberra or Shoalhaven and if they qualify he might give them a travel voucher. That is a long way from a Federal promise of provision of service IN THE EUROBODALLA.
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