New Griffith Radiotherapy Centre should provide free treatment

I welcome the announcement that a new radiotherapy centre will be built in Griffith.

This will save cancer patients a two hour trip to Wagga for treatment.

For years, I have hassled governments about the need to improve our health services.

It seems they have finally started listening, now that Griffith is a marginal seat.

We are in an election year, so governments are making many promises.

My job is to ask questions and make sure their promises are delivered. The Government has contracted private provider Riverina Cancer Care to run our radiotherapy centre.

Riverina Cancer Care operates in Wagga. Due to lack of NSW Government support, patients are left $480 out-of-pocket for a course of radiotherapy.

The Government says patients in Griffith will initially be provided with free “bulk-billed” cancer treatment.

But for how long? Will treatment be free for all patients, for all treatment, forever?

These are the questions I have put to the government. I will fight to ensure Riverina Cancer Care has the support needed to provide a high quality, free service.

We also really need a mental health unit in our new Griffith hospital. We have amongst the highest suicide rate in Australia, but the fewest services.

That’s our next battle. To support my fight, log on to my Facebook page, Helen

Dalton MP.
Helen Dalton
MP for Murray

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