THE introduction of a linear accelerator at Orange Base Hospital has been of little help to Western NSW, the Dubbo and District Branch of Can Assist says.
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It follows a report in Tuesday’s Daily Liberal about huge out-of-pocket expenses faced by patients forced to travel for treatment.
Can Assist’s Stuart and Wendy Beveridge believe Dubbo Hospital needs a linear accelerator.
But Mr Beveridge said treating patients locally would help out in areas such as Bourke, Cobar, Lightning Ridge and Gilgandra and would make it easier for Can Assist to help cancer patients.
“Dubbo people can get to Orange, but people in more rural places can’t get there,” he said.
“Dubbo is said to be a hub of the west - it should be eminent in all fields and be able to do everything.”
Mr Beveridge added Sydney facilities were superior to Dubbo.
“Equipment in Dubbo can get an idea of the problem, but quite often you have to go to Sydney because they have better equipment,” he said.
“It’s going to cost, but it’s going to be worthwhile if Dubbo wants to be a major centre.
“Specialists can diagnose here, but cannot work here - Dubbo needs to look after its sick.”
Can Assist, or the Cancer Assistance Network, pays cancer patients up to $1500 towards travel and accommodation costs and $500 towards bills.
“(Can Assist) is there to help financially and can help to cover costs after IPTAAS,” Mrs Beveridge said.
This is available for those who are referred to Can Assist from an oncologist or social worker and payment is made direct to the companies.
Recently Can Assist Dubbo became self sustaining, which the couple said was a positive and negative, acting secretary Margaret Beer said.
“All of the money raised stays local, to be used by local patients,” she said.
Mr Beveridge agreed, but said with a linear accelerator in Dubbo patients in towns further west would have to travel less and out-of-pocket costs would be easier for patients and Can Assist to manage.
Mr Beveridge said the greatest obstacle to having a linear accelerator in Dubbo was the lack of staff.
“Orange has two linear accelerators and could get a third, but they don’t have enough staff to run them,” he said.
“That’s what would be stopping them bringing linear accelerators to Dubbo.”
Mr Beveridge has insisted council continue to plead to government.
“Council have to annoy the powers that be for facilities so Dubbo is equal to Sydney,” he said.
“For Dubbo to grow we have to provide as good a life as Sydney, with all of the benefits of the rural lifestyle.”
Dubbo State MP Troy Grant said 85 per cent of residents in rural NSW received their health care within their Local Health District.
“I have been advised that the provision of space for a linear accelerator is being made as part of the current planning stages for the continued redevelopment of the Dubbo Hospital,”he said.
“The key issue in the provision of radiotherapy is not providing medical equipment for this service but securing the many specialised staff to maintain and operate the accelerator.”
Can Assist is always looking for more members; its next meeting is on September 10 at the Macquarie Club from 6pm.