Health Infrastructure (HI) has pointed to the “service statement” when declaring itself unable to identify when construction of the facility will begin. “The Western NSW Local Health District is currently finalising a service statement to define the clinical scope for a cancer service,” a HI spokesman told the Daily Liberal. “Once the clinical scope is confirmed, user-group consultation, facility planning and design processes will follow. At this early stage in the planning we are not in a position to provide time frames for delivery.”

The integrated cancer centre will be built on the site now occupied by decommissioned surgical theatres and sterilising facilities on the western side of the hospital campus.

HI calls it a “separate project” to the $150 million stage three and four redevelopment. “The integrated cancer centre is being delivered in conjunction with Dubbo Hospital redevelopment stages three and four but is a separate project because it has a separate budget to the $150 million that was allocated by the NSW government to deliver stages three and four,” the HI spokesman said.“The master plan for Dubbo Hospital redevelopment stages three and four includes an integrated cancer centre zone and both project teams, planning and delivery, will work closely together to ensure the best staff and patient flow between the integrated cancer centre and the other services at Dubbo Hospital.”

State Member for Dubbo Troy Grant revealed the future location of the integrated cancer centre at an information session at the hospital on Tuesday. He said the federal government’s commitment of $25 million to the project would go into “bricks and mortar” but the funding responsibilities of the state government would extended to the likes of equipment and staffing.  A business case will be submitted to the NSW Treasury following  “early planning” for the integrated cancer centre.