Election 2022: Labor’s $8m cancer treatment pledge for the Eurobodalla welcomed by survivors

When Cathie Hurst was diagnosed with cancer, the Eurobodalla local was told she would have to drive for hours each weekend to Sydney for treatment. She’s not alone.

When Cathie Hurst was diagnosed with cancer last year, the South Coast local was told she would have to leave her home town, enduring weeks of gruelling travel just to receive treatment.

Each weekend, Ms Hurst would drive or fly more than four hours to Sydney to receive radiation therapy.

“Travelling meant that I had to be prepared for whether I was going to vomit on a plane, have diarrhoea attacks, or anything,” Ms Hurst told a NSW Parliamentary inquiry in October 2021.

“The difference between that and actually having a hospital or a facility in your region where you can drive yourself, or have your 15 minute radiation treatment and come home – It would make all the difference.”

It’s people like Ms Hurst that are at the heart of a new plan by NSW Labor to improve cancer treatment in the region by investing $8 million in a new radiation therapy clinic, should the party be elected later this month.

NSW Labor leader Chris Minns joined local Labor member Michael Holland, incumbent Gilmore candidate Fiona Phillips, and Labor’s health spokesman Ryan Park in making the announcement on Wednesday.

He said under the leadership of the Liberal and National parties, regional health services, including on the South Coast, had fallen further behind at a critical time.

“For cancer patients in the Eurobodalla, upwards of 2000 people could be diagnosed every year,” he said.

“They have to travel to get life saving treatment to keep themselves alive to battle a debilitating illness (...) then come back to their community.

“That means, as we all suspect, that the health outcomes for regional communities are worse than metropolitan areas. We can, and we must, do better.”

When plans for the new Eurobodalla Hospital were announced in late 2021, the facility was not slated to open with coveted Level 4 facilities – specialist functions that cater to patients like Ms Hurst.

After pushback from a community organisation run by then-doctor Michael Holland, NSW Health Minister Matt Hazard announced the hospital would open with those advanced facilities ahead of the Bega by-election.

Labor candidate for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, left, with state Labor leader Chris Minns, and health spokesman Ryan Park. Picture: Nathan Schmidt

With voters returning to the polls across the South Coast later this month, the Eurobodalla Hospital is once again in the spotlight, only weeks after it was revealed the state government had only just secured the land.

Ms Phillips said the current situation whereby patients had to travel to places like Canberra for treatment was “unfair” on families, and had been an issue for too long.

“We should have equitable access to cancer treatment, not only for cancer patients, but also for their families,” she said.

Ms Phillips said the Morrison Government had failed to fulfil a campaign commitment to develop a cancer treatment centre in the region.

“It’s shameful that this has not happened,” she said.

Mr Holland said the new service would not only benefit the Eurobodalla, but all of southern NSW.

“The Far South Coast was one of seven areas identified three years ago to benefit from a radiation oncology centre,” he said.

“Five out of those areas have received those services. But, we missed out.”

The announcement comes as Transport for NSW continues to struggle to move forward the Moruya Bypass after the project was returned to community consultation with a number of possible routes presented.

Mr Holland said that since his election a “cone of silence” had descended upon him regarding the routes, as well as a controversial proposal to pay for a new roundabout connecting to the hospital out of its budget.

“There are arguments about both routes,” Mr Holland said.

“When we’re looking at a project that might have to cost up to $750 million. I think TfNSW can develop a roundabout off their own back, rather than subtracting from our hospital.”

Mr Holland, who campaigned heavily for the hospital, said the site, as is planned, would deliver the desired services and beds, but would have space for future facilities that could include an educational space.

For Ms Hurst, having survived her cancer diagnosis, the oncology centre was a welcome investment in the area.

“If only it could have been earlier,” she said.

The Bingie resident counts herself lucky. Unlike many cancer patients, she was able to fly for many of her treatments.

“A lot of people out there can’t fly,” she said. “They’re young mothers with children left behind.

“They’re devastated they’ve been told they have cancer, and they have to get in a car, leave their children and maybe their jobs.”