Eurobodalla Regional Hospital plans. Photo: NSW Health.
All seven Eden-Monaro and Gilmore candidates approached by advocacy group ONE Hospital said they supported the inclusion of a local radiotherapy service (LRS) in the Eurobodalla Regional Hospital that is scheduled to open in 2027.
The ONE Hospital advocacy group issued a public invitation on its Facebook page in February.
All declared candidates were invited to share their views on the matter of providing the LRS. The open call was accompanied by personally emailed invitations sent to each candidate on 18 February.
The Gilmore candidates were Andrew Constance (Liberal), Kate Dezarnaulds (independent), Debbie Killian (Greens) and Fiona Phillips (Labor).
The declared candidates in Eden-Monaro at that time were Emma Goward (Greens), Kristy McBain (Labor) and Jo van der Plaat (Liberal).
The advocacy group received responses in support of the LRS from five candidates. Neither of the Liberal candidates had responded as of 13 April (Sunday).
Ms Dezarnaulds said she fully supported the inclusion of a radiotherapy unit at the new hospital.
“With $8 million in confirmed federal funding already secured, I am fully committed to seeing this investment realised,” she said in her response. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver equitable, local cancer care that meets the needs of our growing and ageing population.”
Ms Killian said radiotherapy services should be a core component of the new and expanded hospital currently being built in Moruya.
“We believe providing well-resourced quality public health services is a core government responsibility and access to health services is a human right and should be based on health need, not on ability to pay or where the person lives,” Ms Killian said.
Mylene and Fitzroy Boulting and Georgie Rowley delivering the One Eurobodalla Hospital petition to the Bega office of Andrew Constance. Photo: Ian Campbell.
Ms Phillips said she would continue to fight for the local community so they could access critical healthcare, including specialist treatments such as radiation therapy.
“It is important to note that this service is delivered by the NSW Government but I will continue to work alongside state authorities to make sure it meets the growing needs of our region.”
Ms Goward joined the others in praising the advocacy group for its tireless work.
“I fully support the establishment of LRS in our region,” she said. “It is unacceptable that people in the Eurobodalla and Bega Valley, especially older residents and First Nations people, are forced to travel hundreds of kilometres just to access life-saving or palliative treatment.”
Ms McBain’s office said she was very supportive and vocal about the need for improved access to healthcare in Eden-Monaro.
“Kristy is committed to ensuring communities across Eden-Monaro have access to essential medical services, including radiation therapy at the Eurobodalla Hospital,” her office said.
Ms McBain’s office also noted the service was delivered by the State Government but said Ms McBain would continue to work alongside her state colleagues to improve services.
Mylene and Fitzroy Boulting of ONE Hospital said it was very heartening to see those five politicians take time out to respond personally and set aside any differences of political opinion and policies to express a strong and united endorsement for the provision of the LRS attached to the New Level 4 Eurobodalla Regional Hospital and to service a desperately needed ‘treatment desert’ from the Victorian border up to south of Nowra.
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Region contacted Mr Constance and Ms van der Plaat via their Liberal Party email addresses on 14 April. Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division) communication director Ian Zakon provided a joint response on their behalf because the two candidates “are rushing around and campaigning”.
“The Labor Government is building a hospital that isn’t just missing emergency department beds, but also has no radiotherapy service capacity included in the build,” the joint response said. “Shadow Minister Ann Ruston has already visited Moruya to look at the options that a future Liberal Government can pursue to resolve this Labor mess.”
The website for the new hospital said it would have an emergency department with a larger capacity than the current combined emergency services of Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals. It will have an eight-bed intensive care unit/close observation unit, the first intensive care service available in the Eurobodalla region.
At the time of submitting for publication, Mr Zakon had not provided any evidence to substantiate the claim of “missing” emergency department beds.
The Boultings said the joint response had ignored a key part of their request, namely that “we are not seeking generic city-inspired party statements but rather a direct and honest response to the urgent regional health issue”.
