Labor’s $125m commitment to deliver cancer centre at Nepean Hospital
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has promised to deliver a $125 million comprehensive cancer centre at Nepean Hospital.
Penrith
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Shorten has promised to deliver a $125 million comprehensive cancer centre at Nepean Hospital.
The Opposition Leader visited the Lindsay electorate for the first time during this election campaign, making major funding commitments to healthcare in western Sydney.
Joined by Labor candidate for Lindsay Diane Beamer at Derby Street Family Medical Centre in Kingswood, Mr Shorten said the announcement for the cancer centre “highlighted the issues of the election”.
“Nepean Hospital has had $5.7 million dollars cut from it; Nepean Hospital has outgrown its current facilities and needs new investments, not cuts,” Mr Shorten said.
“Labor has made a decision to put patients first and we are in a position to make real change.”
The centre would start construction from 2025 and include the latest treatment technologies, a dedicated research space, rooms for inpatients, clinic rooms and treatment areas.
Diane Beamer, who was responsible as state MP for delivering the original oncology unit, said the facilities are in need of upgrades.
“In 1997 I helped deliver Nepean Hospital’s original oncology unit, but under the Liberals these facilities have now become woefully inadequate,” Ms Beamer said.
“Delivering a world class comprehensive cancer unit at Nepean Hospital is why I’m getting back into politics.”
During his visit Mr Shorten also took time to meet with nurses and speak to patients. He said one patient’s story in particular struck a chord.
“What we heard from a real person in the real world is that their out of pocket costs in fighting cancer has been over $100,000,” Mr Shorten said.
“This isn’t the way Australia should be, what we need is real change to make sure Nepean Hospital gets the investment it deserves and patients get the support they deserve.”
The Labor commitment would only cover 50 per cent of the total cost for the centre, Mr Shorten did not say where the other half would come from.
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