A grassroots push for the establishment of an integrated cancer centre at Dubbo Hospital is ramping up with the circulation of a petition in the city calling on the federal government for funding.
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Organisers say they hope to collect at least 20,000 signatures in Dubbo and all the towns and communities served by Dubbo Hospital.
They are seeking to build on earlier efforts, which have already led to the creation of The Cancer Centre for Dubbo Hospital Facebook page to mobilise community support.
The petition addressed to "the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives" tells of the "urgent need in western NSW for more equitable access to services to diagnose and treat cancer".
"Currently residents of Western NSW are required to travel to locations such as Sydney and Orange in order to obtain diagnosis and treatment of this disease," the petition says.
"In many cases, the travel involved leaves cancer patients and their families severely out of pocket and sees them away from their homes for often extensive periods of time.
"In addition, the emotional and physical toll this takes on patients and their families can be crippling.
"Doctors from the NSW Western Local Health District have reported that there are many cases where residents in rural and regional areas are refusing to undertake diagnosis and treatment for cancer as they cannot afford to leave their homes and families.
"This is particularly the case for residents in Indigenous communities across Western NSW.
"We therefore ask the House to do all in its power to provide funding towards stage 4 of the NSW government's redevelopment of the Dubbo Hospital."
Rotarian Lyn Smith advised people wishing to sign the petition would initially be able to sign it at Dubbo City Council's civic administration building, the Dubbo Visitor Information Centre and Astley's Plumbing and Hardware.
Any community groups or organisations wishing to volunteer to collect signatures could contact any of the three petition locations, or by asking a member of the Rotary Club of Dubbo West or by inboxing the A Cancer Centre for Dubbo Facebook page.
Mrs Smith said they also expected a number of shops would have petitions available to sign, as well as various doctors' surgeries, Aboriginal health services and designated pharmacies.
Tables would be manned at various times by Rotarians at the Post Office in Talbragar Street, at Dubbo Square, Orana Mall, Delroy and Tamworth Street shopping centres.
People in other towns and communities should be able to get petitions through their local community groups, Mrs Smith said.
"If local community groups would like petitions, please tell them to contact us on our Facebook page," she said.
