Moves towards a potential SA-first regionally-based cancer radiation therapy unit have taken another step in recent times with a feasibility study under way.
In August, following a 20,000 strong petition from South East residents, the Health Minister Chris Picton announced he would commission a feasibility study into the possibility of establishing a radiation therapy unit at Mount Gambier.
"Health Q Consultants are now engaged to deliver the study and we look forward to the results," he said.
"The Malinauskas Labor government is committed to improving health services for the region, including investing $24 million for infrastructure upgrades in Mount Gambier.
"This includes redeveloping the emergency department, doubling the size of the hospital's mental health unit and establishing two acute drug and alcohol detox beds."
A government spokesperson said they expected to have the results of the feasibility study by mid 2024.
At this time, the only radiation therapy treatment available in South Australia is in Adelaide.
Radiation Treatment Limestone Coast Working Party chair Lachlan Haynes said while he had hoped the feasibility study had a little faster timeline, he was happy with the progress made in 2023.
"Considering where we started at the beginning of the year as just a working group, then we had the petition, and now two big things in play in a feasibility study and a legislative review," he said.
"We're very hopeful for the findings of the feasibility study, and then we'll have a road map of what the region can currently support and what we need to do to make it happen."
Mr Haynes said the concept of a radiation therapy at Mount Gambier definitely had local support, with about one-third of the South East population "either putting pen to paper or a click of the mouse" to sign a physical or online petition in support.
He said he was also buoyed by the continuing conversations about radiation therapy happening at state and regional levels, such as the recent roundtable, headed by SA opposition spokesperson for regional health Penny Pratt and federal opposition spokesperson for health and aged care Anne Ruston.
The roundtable, held last week, brought together representatives from public and private health care providers to discuss preventative health policy, workforce, research and patient outcomes.
On the agenda was the continued calls for a dedicated radiation therapy unit to be established in the state's South East.
"South Australia continues to be the only state without radiation therapy services located in a regional community and that needs to change," Ms Pratt said.
"The Malinauskas Labor Government's own draft SA Cancer Plan is very clear and more needs to be done to address survivorship outcomes for a third of our population living in regional communities.
"The most important overriding principle in the plan is equity of access but it's silent on optimising access to radiation therapy services outside of Adelaide."
Ms Ruston said "one of my biggest priorities in this space is that a person's postcode should not determine the level of care they are able to receive."
"The fact that South Australia does not currently have any regional radiotherapy opportunities is disappointing as it means all South Australians must travel to Adelaide to receive treatment, resulting in access being more costly and inequitable," she said.
"The federal government must find ways to ensure the system is fit-for-purpose to incentivise new technologies and treatments in Australia, so that support is available to cancer patients no matter where they live."
Mr Picton said the Liberal government had previously rejected the proposal for radiation therapy in Mount Gambier.
Elizabeth Anderson
Editor of Stock Journal.
Editor of Stock Journal.
