Thursday, 2 May 2019

Northern Victoria Region

In reply to Ms LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (19 March 2019)

Ms MIKAKOS (Northern Metropolitan—Minister for Health, Minister for Ambulance Services):

The Victorian Government has significantly invested in growing and expanding the range and quality of cancer services in regional Victoria. This has included the development of Regional Cancer Centres in Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrnambool and Albury Wodonga, as well as new models of care at sub-regional health services linked to major regional hospitals. Radiotherapy has been a feature of the Regional Cancer Centres.

On 21 March 2019, GenesisCare announced a plan to develop a radiotherapy facility in Shepparton. The Department of Health and Human Services is in negotiations with GenesisCare to support public patient access to radiotherapy treatment at this facility at no out-of-pocket cost and to ensure that this radiotherapy service is integrated with other cancer services in the region.

All existing regional radiotherapy services in Victoria are supported by the Victorian Government to provide access for public patients at no out-of-pocket cost and the Department of Health and Human Services is working to establish similar arrangements in Shepparton.

In addition, the Andrews Labor Government will deliver 500,000 move specialist appointments, including 40,000 cancer specific appointments, across regional and rural Victoria over the next four years. This initiative will improve access and reduce waiting times for specialist appointments in regional areas.