By Aaron Cordy
LEADER of the Liberal-National Coalition, Jess Wilson, stood on the lawns of GV Health with a cluster of representatives on Wednesday, October 7, to pledge $95M to deliver Stage 2 of the Goulburn Valley Health Integrated Cancer Centre.
“A cancer diagnosis is challenging enough without Goulburn Valley patients and their families having to travel long distances to access the care they need,” said Ms Wilson.
“A Liberal and Nationals government will make the commitment and build Stage 2 that is desperately required by this community. Today has happened because people like Wendy Lovell, Kim O’Keeffe, Shane Sali have been fighting for this for years.”
GV Health is Victoria’s only major regional public health service without a fully integrated cancer centre. If Stage 2 is fully funded, it will include:
- Onsite radiotherapy;
- Additional haematology and oncology treatment spaces;
- A dedicated wellness and support centre;
- Specialist consulting rooms;
- Research and teaching spaces;
- A multidisciplinary planning and review space; and
- Additional car parks.
The $95M for GV Health’s Cancer Centre will be funded with money from the $24B the Coalition claims they will save with a 10-year economic policy package by freezing Public Sector Hiring, winding up Breakthrough Victoria and abolishing the Treaty Process.
Director of GV Health Foundation and Fundraising, Amy De Paola, is one of many locals who knows how important it is to fund and complete Stage 2 GV Health Integrated Cancer Centre, no matter who wins the November state election.
“It’s the simple things, and I continuously say it, but driving to Melbourne and finding a car park is just a level of anxiety for cancer patients that is overwhelming at the time of going through treatment. So, to have care close to home is very important,” said Amy.
