Monday 14 February 2011
Work starts on $55 million cancer centre
Health Minister David Davis today turned the first sod on Ballarat's new $55 million Regional Integrated Cancer Centre at Ballarat Health Services.
Minister Davis said the new facility, expected to be completed by late 2012, would give cancer patients in Ballarat and the Grampians region access to better quality treatment and support services.
Visiting the hospital today, Mr Davis said the state-of-the-art centre would allow patients to be treated closer to home, near family and friends.
"This world-class cancer centre will expand and enhance radiotherapy services for patients and bring together a range of important services under the one roof," Mr Davis said.
"It will offer a new regional radiation oncology service at Ballarat Hospital and integrate medical oncology, supportive care and other key services.
"This will mean fewer patients will have to travel to Melbourne for their treatments."
Mr Davis said the new facility would give the region's dedicated clinicians and health staff the latest equipment and an environment which would help them deliver even better care to the approximately 70 Victorians given a cancer diagnosis every day.
The State Government is investing $13 million in the new centre with the Commonwealth Government contributing the remaining $42 million in capital costs.
The project is expected to create more than 230 jobs.
The Ballarat Integrated Regional Cancer Centre will house:
· six consulting rooms dedicated to radiation oncology;
· sixteen day oncology chairs;
· oncology consulting rooms;
· a satellite pharmacy;
· a Wellness Centre ;
· clinical trials and research; and
· education services.
Western Victoria Region MLC David Koch said many cancer patients and their families in the region knew from first-hand experience how wonderful the staff and care were at Ballarat Base Hospital.
"This new centre will bring all the services together under one roof and give patients, family and staff the world-class facilities they deserve," Mr Koch said.
Mr Davis said the Ballarat Hospital would also benefit from an $88.4 million funding boost from the Baillieu Government.
He said the funds would be used to provide 60 more beds and the capacity to treat an extra 9,000 patients per year.
Funding would also be provided for an additional 20 doctors and 80 nurses at Ballarat Base Hospital and to recruit GPs and specialists to help train rural medical graduates and meet local medical needs.
Media Release Attachment - Ballarat Cancer Centre sod turn.doc [Word, 90112 Bytes]
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