Expanding Country Cancer Services
What we’ll do
A Marshall Liberal Government will double the chemotherapy delivered in regional South Australia through a country cancer initiative.
Our aim will be to more than double the level of chemotherapy being delivered in country South Australia.
Specifically, we will:
- Invest in specialist teams at country chemotherapy units with more chemo nurses; a second medical oncologist; nurse, pharmacy and administrative support
- Undertake a pilot of an Australian-first model where a local GP receives advanced training in medical oncology
- Implement a statewide electronic cancer information and prescribing system
Why we’re doing it
Labor took $69 million of Federal funding to build the infrastructure for expanded cancer services in country South Australia.
Eight years after it promised to increase the health workforce and upgrade IT to operate country cancer services, Labor has not delivered.
The required nursing and medical staff have not been employed. The IT system has not been implemented. And country cancer units are operating well below capacity.
Country cancer patients have to travel to Adelaide for chemotherapy when, for many, it could be delivered closer to their home.