Maitland residents will soon have access to radiation and medical oncology services with the construction of a facility adjacent to the new Maitland Hospital in Metford.
GenesisCare has today turned the sod on its new radiation therapy centre which will provide patients with local access to radiotherapy techniques and technology.
Member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison MP welcomed commencement of work on the new facility as it will spare many Lower Hunter residents the arduous daily journey faced by any who require radiation therapy as part of their oncology treatment.
“We now have Maitland people who face a two-hour commute each day to undertake a course of potentially lifesaving treatment,” Ms Aitchison said.
“These people can at times be terribly unwell. Mandatory travel can place great strain on patients who should be recuperating, and take a toll on the family members who wish to support them throughout their treatment journey.”
GenesisCare Maitland will provide services including stereotactic body ablative therapy, tattoo-free radiation therapy, deep inspiration breath hold and palliative care access.
“Radiation and medical oncology is also used to reduce pain and improve quality of life for terminal patients in a palliative care setting,” Ms Aitchison said.
“Reducing travel time will ease their comfort and ensure they have more time for the things that matter.
“I have long advocated for radiotherapy services to be provided in Maitland, and I hope that having a private provider here will help persuade the NSW Government that there are people in need of these services in Maitland and further up the Hunter Valley.”
Work on the new facility will begin in earnest in November and is scheduled to throw open its doors to patients in mid 2021.
GenesisCare already has facilities at numerous sites in NSW including St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney, Macquarie Hospital, Gateshead, North Sydney’s Mater Hospital, Concord and Kingswood.
