The Nationals WA candidate for Geraldton Kirrilee Warr has announced a $10.3 million commitment to help cancer patients and their families access radiation oncology services closer to home.
Ms Warr said the funding commitment would aid hundreds of families in the region each year and ensure that the long-awaited Geraldton radiation oncology facility could be integrated within the new Geraldton Health Campus redevelopment.
“Providing access to radiotherapy services closer to home will be a game-changer for Geraldton families who have previously been forced to drive to Perth for treatment,” Ms Warr said.
“If The Nationals form Government in 2025, our commitment will fully fund this this lifesaving service for Geraldton and the Mid West region, bringing the total project funding up to $19.3 million, which the Health Minister claims is necessary to deliver this project.”
Ms Warr said a radiation oncology unit would have a significant impact for cancer patients and their families in Geraldton and the wider region.
“This project would mean the world to families who regularly travel long distances to Perth for treatment, easing the burden of accommodation costs, loss of work, and being away from home during treatment,” Ms Warr said.
The former Coalition Federal Government committed $9 million towards a radiation oncology facility in 2019, but the State Government has repeatedly refused to match this funding to see the project to completion.
“The recent State Budget included no new funding for this crucial project,” Ms Warr said.
“It’s a sad indictment of a Government that has delivered over $20 billion in budget surpluses since 2017, yet claims they can’t afford to provide life-saving cancer treatment in Geraldton.”
Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love said the service was anticipated to provide support for hundreds of families each year.
“According to data from the Department of Health, there are over 400 cancer patients in the Mid West, about half of whom could benefit from radiotherapy,” Mr Love said.
“Since the 2020-21 financial year, 268 Mid West patients have undertaken a combined 1,321 trips to Perth to access speciality radiation oncology services in Perth, costing the State Government over $1.1 million in subsidies.
“It would be more cost-effective, and certainly provide better health outcomes for patients, if this treatment could be delivered closer to home.”
Mr Love also pointed out research suggesting the demand for the service would increase in coming years.
“The WA Cancer Plan 2020-25 indicates that with both population increases and ageing, cancer rates are expected to increase in WA. There is no better time than now to start planning for the future health needs of regional WA,” Mr Love said.
