‘Once-in-a-generation opportunity’ lost as federal funding officially taken off the table for Limestone Coast radiation cancer services

Exclusive documents have revealed how the state government will spend $4.3m of federal funds previously allocated to build a South-East radiation treatment centre.

As the calls for a South-East radiation treatment centre grows, it has been revealed that residents unable to bear the financial and emotional cost of spending weeks away from home have made the heartbreaking decision to decline or stopped their life saving treatment. Picture: Supplied

The state government has hit unpause and confirmed it will divert $4.3m of federal funds away from a proposal to build a Mount Gambier-based radiation treatment centre.

The diverted funds will be used to build an Integrated Cancer Consult Suite at the Mount Gambier and Districts Health Service — with part of the funds used to upgrade the car park facilities.

A lack of a South-East radiation service means residents are forced to travel either five hours to Adelaide or four hours round trip to Warrnambool for radiation treatment.

Despite the federal funding diversion, the state government will press forward with an $80,000 feasibility study.

Limestone Coast Radiation Working Group chair Lachlan Haynes said residents “are concerned about what that feasibility study is really being used for and how it will be driven”.

Mr Haynes said the lack of a local service had an incalculable human cost.

“The most harrowing part is people that we’ve met along this journey have come up to us, either themselves or (on behalf of) family members and said they have stopped treatment,” he said.

Mr Haynes said people found the financial and emotional cost so high they had either given up or not bothered to undergo treatment.

Several residents shared their horror stories with The Advertiser including an immunocompromised mum that was forced to stay in a caravan, while being treated in Warrnambool.

Hayley Tincknell was forced to spend eight weeks at Figtree Caravan Park in a Warrnambool while receiving radiation treatment. She could have received the same treatment in Mount Gambier if the state government got behind the proposed build. Picture: Arj Ganesan

Limestone Coast Local Health Network Chair Grant King said the diverted federal funding did not spell the end for a South-East radiation treatment centre.

Mr King said the LCLHN would work with the state government “to address the necessary funding and implementation options” should the feasibility study support its establishment.

Mr King added the outcome of the study would not be affected by the diverted funds.

Deanne Carmody and Lachlan Haynes, the chair of The Radiation Working Group Limestone Coast, and Leader of the Opposition David Speirs out front of Parliament House with the 16,000 signatures for a South-East radiation treatment centre. Picture; Mark Brake

A petition with 20,000 signatures from South-East residents was presented to parliament on Thursday begging for the local service to be established.

However, only 16,000 signatures will count as South Australia still does not allow for online signatures to be presented.

The petition will trigger the Legislative Review Committee, which is required to investigate the matter and report back to both houses.

The federal funding was part of a national $63.4m package for 13 sites in need of new radiation therapy services, including Mount Gambier.

According to planning documents seen by The Advertiser, the new facility upgrades will include four general consult rooms, two of which have telehealth capacity.

The suite will also house one enlarged consult room for mobility-impaired patients, a treatment room, and a multidisciplinary workroom that can accommodate 12 clinical staff.

The planning documents also highlight that the hospital’s nurse call system and parking facilities will be upgraded.

Member for Barker Tony Pasin said he believed the feasibility study was being used as an exercise to tear down the project.

“I’m reasonably confident that if this feasibility study does stack up — the state government will then say ‘Oh, but we need to $4.3 million from Canberra,” he said.

“That money won’t be available — this was a once-in-a-generation opportunity.”

Works on the Integrated Cancer Consult Suite are expected to begin in early 2024.