Major boost for State's cancer services

Cancer patients are set to benefit from a major boost to radiotherapy services announced today by the State Government.

Health Minister Kim Hames said a $200million contract had been awarded to specialist medical company Genesis Care to provide state-of-the-art radiotherapy services for Royal Perth Hospital, and new cancer centres in Bunbury and Fiona Stanley hospitals.

Cancer patients in the State's South-West will be among the first to benefit, with the opening of the $15.2million South West Radiation Oncology Service at Bunbury Hospital in mid-2011.  The State Government is investing $9.2million and the Federal Government $6million into the project.

"This will mean that about 95 per cent of cancer patients in the region will be able to be treated at the Bunbury centre," Dr Hames said.

"Patients suffering from the most common cancers, and those undergoing palliative treatments for symptom control, will soon be able to be treated locally, remaining closer to their homes and the support of family and friends.

"We promised to provide state-of-the-art facilities and services for cancer patients in the region requiring radiation oncology treatment and I am pleased to see that it is now becoming a reality."

The Minister said the contract had also ensured that when Fiona Stanley Hospital opens in 2014, it would have some of the most sophisticated radiotherapy equipment in the Southern Hemisphere.

"Fiona Stanley Hospital's cancer service will be an international centre of excellence for treatment, research and education and will attract medical professionals from across the country and overseas," he said.

Dr Hames said radiotherapy equipment at Royal Perth Hospital would be replaced in July 2011, when Genesis Care took over from the current service provider.

"Perth Radiation Oncology has provided an excellent service to patients at Royal Perth Hospital over the past 16 years, but that contract is now coming to an end," he said.

"The new contract has undergone a thorough evaluation process and I am confident that Genesis Care will continue to provide the same high level of service we have come to expect."

The radiation oncology service at Royal Perth Hospital will move to Fiona Stanley Hospital when it opens in 2014.

Genesis Care is an Australian-owned company that provides high quality cancer and healthcare services across the country.