Official opening of Perth Radiation Oncology Centre at RPH

1/10/96

Western Australian patients requiring radiotherapy will now have access to a multi-million dollar, state-of-the-art radiotherapy service, which was officially opened today by Federal Health and Family Services Minister Dr Michael Wooldridge.

The privately-operated Perth Radiation Oncology Centre, located at Royal Perth Hospital, is expected to provide approximately 15,000 treatments for RPH patients this financial year.

"The development of this centre is a prime example of how, through mutual co-operation between public and private interests, high-quality and reliable health services can be successfully delivered to those community members who require it," Dr Wooldridge said.

The $2.2 million State Government-funded redevelopment now includes:

·       modern consulting rooms;

·       patient treatment and waiting areas;

·       planning rooms; and -

·       'bunkers' to house sophisticated radiotherapy equipment.

The clinic's private operators, who have a 10-year service agreement with the hospital, have installed new, high-tech radiotherapy equipment worth more than $4.1million.

WA Health Minister Kevin Prince said the opening of the unit was an important milestone in the history of Royal Perth Hospital.

"This unique partnership between a public teaching hospital and a private medical practice has undoubtedly achieved a remarkable improvement in the quality of service for patients," Mr Prince said.

"Before the development of this vital service, patients requiring radiotherapy treatment were disadvantaged by the very limited and outdated equipment available at RPH.

"Those patients requiring anything more than basic radiotherapy were obliged to face daily trips to and from Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital for their treatment.

"This situation obviously was most unsatisfactory and resulted in an added burden for cancer patients. The new facility will obviously remedy those difficulties."

Mr Prince said the clinic would treat patients with breast, prostate, cervical and rectal cancers, bone marrow transplant patients and palliative care patients needing pain relief.

"The success rates for radiotherapy currently vary from about 98 per cent for testicular cancer to 90 per cent for early laryngeal cancer and 10 per cent for the worst cases of lung cancer," he said.

Mr Prince said that the improved radiotherapy service had been achieved without any financial disadvantage to patients.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 366 0300