A GILGANDRA woman feels her decision to launch a petition calling for more cancer treatment services in Dubbo has been justified by the two-month silence of NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner.
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In the lead-up to tonight’s Western NSW Health Forum in Dubbo, Shirley Foran understands that Mrs Skinner is yet to respond to “representations” made on her behalf by Dubbo MP Troy Grant in early December.
Through friend and supporter Reverend Michael Birch, Mrs Foran yesterday said the two-month wait proved “exactly why a petition is required”.
“If the letters and communications from a Coalition member do not receive a response, what will?” Mr Birch said.
Yesterday Mrs Foran was reconsidering her plan to
attend tonight’s forum after encountering stumbling blocks to a meeting with Mrs Skinner in Dubbo today.
She had sought to hand across the petition that grew by 300 yesterday, taking the tally of signatures to more than 5300.
Residents of Bourke, Cobar, Nyngan, Trangie, Warren, Gilgandra, Coonamble, Lightning Ridge, Dunedoo and Mudgee have signed up to the family-driven campaign to ease the strain on Orana residents of travelling away for radiotherapy treatment.
The Foran family has found widespread support for its argument that accessing radiotherapy treatment in Orange is no less difficult than driving to Dubbo and flying to Sydney.
On Tuesday Mrs Foran, who lives in MP Kevin Humphries’ state electorate of Barwon, called Mr Grant’s office to ask about the possibility of handing the petition to the minister today.
In a statement released
yesterday Mr Grant said: “Ms Foran was informed that the minister’s visits to the electorate are organised by the ministerial office and therefore it was not for this office to determine whether or not her request could be met.
“Ms Foran was offered two alternatives, namely that she could hand the petition to this office and we would forward it to the minister on her behalf, or she could send it directly to the ministerial office in Sydney.
“Minister Skinner’s contact details were provided.”
Mr Grant also said he appreciated the “need to improve access to radiation oncology services”.
Tonight’s public forum is part of the state government’s “commitment to local decision-making in health”.
“The event will be interactive, and you are invited to table suggestions, ideas and innovations that highlight what the health services in Western NSW do really well, and what can be done better,” the invitation reads.