Canberrans and residents from the surrounding region undergoing specialised cancer treatment will now benefit from a streamlined cancer centre, based at the Canberra Hospital, that will combine several elements of cancer treatment including screening, treatment and palliative options in a new state-of-the-art building.
Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher today joined Senator Zed Seselja, Senator for the ACT, representing The Hon Peter Dutton, Federal Minister for Health to officially open the new Canberra Region Cancer Centre.
“Cancer is a disease that is affecting more and more people in our community and can turn people’s lives upside down. This new cancer centre will harness the skills and expertise of the leading oncologists and other health professionals at the Canberra Hospital but streamline the diagnostic and treatment services in one place for patients,” the Chief Minister said.
“The new centre will offer a full range of screening, assessment, diagnostic, treatment and palliative services in an outpatient setting. It will provide an integrated service that that focuses on delivering the right treatment and support to patients as early as possible in their journey.”
The new Canberra Region Cancer Centre connects with the existing Radiation Oncology building at the Canberra Hospital and offers over 5,000 square metres of floor space. It will support improved treatment for patients by co-locating cancer and other related services, research and teaching programs under one roof.
“Crucial to the successful delivery of this new building that will meet the needs of unique patients has been the input from staff and consumers in the design of the centre from the beginning, to make sure we could deliver a world class facility that is appropriate for staff and the people they care for,” the Chief Minister said.
The total budget for design and construction of the Centre is $48.7 million, with $28.3 million committed by the Australian Government under the Health and Hospitals Fund, which is part of a national initiative to build a world class cancer care system by improving access to cancer services and support in regional areas of Australia.
The remaining $20.4 million was provided under the ACT Government’s Health Infrastructure Program, which is building new state of the art buildings to provide excellence in health care to the people of the ACT and surrounding region.
“The ACT Government is committed to ensuring our health system can support our community ‘s health care needs through investment in new infrastructure, but also, importantly, continue to play a key role in the healthcare of the South East region of New South Wales, which this new centre will be central is doing,” the Chief Minister said.
“I would like to thank all those who have been involved in delivering this important new facility and look forward to seeing it make a positive difference in the treatments of many cancer patients from Canberra and the surrounding region.
(Katy Gallagher Media Release)
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