Quashed regional radiation treatment centre forces immunocompromised mum to stay in a caravan
A mother and daughter diagnosed with breast cancer were forced into a caravan park hours from home because they could not access care in their own town.
Mount Gambier
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Public outcry for a Mount Gambier cancer radiation treatment centre continues grow with over 800 people joining a Facebook group dedicated to seeing a South East service.
The lack of a South East service meant mother and daughter Leeanne and Hailey Tincknell, who were diagnosed with breast cancer within a week of each other, have been forced to travel almost two-and-a-half hours to Warrnambool for treatment and stay in a caravan.
Though Leeanne was able to secure a cabin during her treatment, her daughter who’s radiation treatment was delayed by the need to complete a course of chemotherapy, was forced to accept a powered caravan site.
Mrs Tincknell said it was “lucky” their family had access to a caravan – with her daughter forced to spend her first two weeks on a powered site in the Victorian town.
The accommodation was less than ideal for the Mount Gambier pair, with Mrs Tincknell concerned about her daughter who had just finished chemotherapy and was immunocompromised.
“She had to go and share a shower block with hundreds of people,” Mrs Ticknell said.
Hailey Tincknell said being hours away from her family and her two young kids aged six and three during treatment was incredibly tough.
“It’s hard on the kids as well because I’m having to be over here (Warrnambool) while they’re back in Mount Gambier,” she said.
Because of her treatment, Ms Tincknell missed out on seeing her son off for his first day of school, a milestone she can never get back.
Ms Tincknell said not having a local service placed an incredible financial burden on her, particularly as she runs her own business.
On January 30, Health Minister Chris Picton sent a letter to Member for Barker Tony Pasin, explaining why the state government did not support the bid for a centre in SA’s second-largest city.
The letter listed recruitment, patient care and equipment maintenance difficulties as reasons why the “unsuitable” centre could not go ahead in the South East, despite funding being allocated towards establishing it from the federal government.
Minister Picton previously said the viability of the centre was considered by the Limestone Coast Local Health Network and he has not sought to change the conclusion that was reached.
Member of the Limestone Coast Radiation Treatment Working Group Deanne Carmody slammed the state government not using the $4.3m of federal money for a new treatment service.
The funding formed part of a $63.4m package for 13 sites in need of new radiation therapy services, including Mount Gambier.
A spokesman from the Limestone Coast Local Health Network said cancer services will be expanding at Mount Gambier and Districts Health Service.
“The $4.3m upgrade, funded by the Commonwealth Government will help to deliver a new Integrated Cancer Consult Site, with a focus on increasing services for patients receiving radiation therapy,” a spokesman said.
“As well as staff areas and a range of consultation rooms, patients receiving radiation therapy services in Warrnambool, Victoria and Royal Adelaide Hospital will have a dedicated space for radiation oncology clinicians to provide face-to-face and telehealth services as part of the cancer care team.
“Community consultation regarding the upgrades will occur within coming months.”
In 2017 doctors discovered Ms Carmody’s son Scott Collins had a brain tumour “the size of a grapefruit”, which required a brain resection and targeted radiation therapy.
After Mr Collins had roughly 25 per cent of his brain removed — his parents were forced to take turns coming up to Adelaide to support him during his radiation treatment.
Ms Carmody said people in Adelaide had the ability to have their radiation treatment in between their lunch break and called on the state government to look “beyond the toll gate”.
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