Cancer treatment available in South-West WA

The new South West Radiation Oncology Centre, the first centre of its kind in regional Western Australia, has been opened.

The state-of-the-art centre will initially treat up to 500 patients each year from the South-West, as well as the Great Southern and the Wheatbelt.

Activity is expected to grow to an estimated 700 patients each year.

The radiation oncology centre will reduce patient stress and associated travel costs to Perth where patients would otherwise have had to go for treatment.

Being treated locally means patients can remain closer to their homes and the support network of their families and friends.

The Health Minister Kim Hames said services began on 1 July 2011 with patient consultations, followed by treatment planning. Radiotherapy will commence from early August.

“The State Government has allocated $9.2million and the Federal Government $6million, and it’s expected that when fully operational the centre will cater for up to 95 per cent of people needing radiotherapy in the South-West,” he said.

“Specialist medical company Genesis Care is providing radiotherapy services at the centre as part of a $200million contract to deliver the services at Bunbury, Royal Perth Hospital and the new cancer centre at the Fiona Stanley Hospital.

The new $15.2million centre was built by local builders Perkins (WA) Pty Ltd, with construction started in April 2010.

21 July 2011.