The Rudd Government and NSW Government will invest $38.6 million to enhance cancer services at Gosford and Wyong Hospitals as part of the Central Coast Regional Cancer Service.
The Rudd Government will provide $28.6 million and the NSW Government will provide a further $10 million, to provide the full spectrum of cancer services, including prevention and screening, treatment, palliative and supportive care.
With some cancers, patients from rural areas are up to three times more likely to die within five years of diagnosis than their counterparts in urban areas. The $38.6 million investment in Gosford and Wyong will work towards improving the services and care for the more than 32,000 NSW residents diagnosed with cancer each year.
The new facility at Gosford will include the construction of three radiotherapy bunkers, installation of two linear accelerators, a CT scanner and an additional five chemotherapy treatment chairs.
The funding will also support the enhancement of a multidisciplinary clinic and day oncology unit at Wyong Hospital.
Once fully operational, the Central Coast Regional Cancer Service is expected to provide treatment for an additional 828 radiotherapy patients per year and 2,500 additional chemotherapy treatments per year.
The Central Coast Regional Cancer Service forms part of the Rudd Government's $560 million commitment to establish regional cancer centres so that Australians can get care closer to home and their community.
While Australia has better overall cancer survival rates than comparable countries, there is still unacceptable variation for some people, depending on the type of cancer, a person's socioeconomic status or where they live.
It is of great concern that for the 30 per cent of Australians living in rural and remote areas, outcomes are worse than for people living in the city.
Since coming into office, the Rudd Government has committed over $2.3 billion in cancer infrastructure, medicines, screening and research.
Today's announcement also shows the benefit of the Federal Government stepping up to the plate and providing funding for health services across Australia.
Under the National Health and Hospitals Network, the Rudd Government would provide 60 per cent of the funding for capital upgrades for public hospitals.
The Rudd Government's plan will see health services funded nationally and run locally through local hospital networks to deliver better outcomes for local communities.