A new cancer centre in Noosa should be open by the middle of the year, GenesisCare says.
Construction is well underway at the purpose-built clinic, which is within walking distance from Noosa Hospital, and the first patient should be treated there in July.
This week, GenesisCare hosted a site visit and welcomed Noosa council representatives, Noosa Hospital acting CEO Karl van der Merwe, the developer Dexus and construction company Erilyan.
“The healthcare needs of the Noosa community are expanding,” said Steve Nguyen, the general manager of GenesisCare Queensland.
“We have proudly provided compassionate cancer care services to the wider Sunshine Coast community for more than 30 years in Nambour and Buderim centres.
“Our history here gives our doctors deep local knowledge and well-established relationships with local specialists and GPs.
“Our aim is to build on our strong foundations in the local area and continue delivering evidence-based, personalised cancer care with a professional healthcare team that focuses on the patient, not the condition.”
Mr Nguyen said GenesisCare was committed to increasing access to high-quality cancer services on the Sunshine Coast.
“We’re really excited about the progress and the machines should start to arrive in the next few weeks. We’re lucky the weather hasn’t impacted construction,” he said.
Related story: Centre to provide ‘closer to home’ treatment
The $8 million facility will bring cancer therapy closer to home for Noosa and northern Sunshine Coast residents with radiation and allied health services, as well as access to clinical trials for appropriate patients.
Located on Goodchap Street in Noosaville, the new centre is expected to offer radiation oncology treatment to more than 500 patients annually and generate more jobs for radiation therapists, oncology nurses, medical physicists, allied health professionals and patient service officers on the Sunshine Coast.
Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart, who was part of the site visit, said the centre would benefit many shire residents.
“Our local community will benefit from a new and dedicated cancer centre right here in Noosaville offering advanced cancer care services including radiation therapy and allied healthcare support,” she said.
Dr van der Werwe added that patients would benefit from having localised radiation treatment.
“At the Noosa Hospital, we aim to be a community hospital. We love it when we can look after patients in Noosa and they don’t need to travel for care,” he said.
“The new GenesisCare radiation treatment centre in Noosa will be a good step in this direction.”
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