Advanced cancer treatment rolls out on the Sunshine Coast

• Sunshine Coast University Hospital to see $2.3 million service expansion.
• In a Southern Hemisphere first, the service now offers a new Cone Beam CT scanner to enable real-time treatment.
• Locals can now access advanced cancer treatment closer to home, reducing the need to travel to Brisbane.
• The Crisafulli Government is delivering easier access to health services, strengthening cancer care across the state and healing Labor’s Health Crisis.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering health services when you need them, introducing advanced cancer treatment for patients on the Sunshine Coast.

The $2.3 million boost will enable the Sunshine Coast University Hospital to treat gynaecological and prostate cancers, among others, filling an important gap left by Labor’s Health Crisis during a decade of decline in regional Queensland.

A new portable Cone Beam CT scanner is included in the expansion, designed specifically for brachytherapy and enabling clinicians to deliver safer, highly precise treatment in real time while a patient is under anaesthetic – removing the need to be moved throughout the hospital for medical imaging which can impact the treatment.

Funded through the Queensland Technology Future Fund, the machine supports the first, and only, service in the Southern Hemisphere capable of providing real-time applicator insertion and treatment delivery during the same procedure.

Brachytherapy delivers radiation directly to the cancer site, minimising exposure to surrounding healthy tissue while delivering highly targeted treatment with strong clinical outcomes.

It's just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering easier access to health services, with the expanded service expected to treat between 40 and 80 patients annually in the first instance and numbers anticipated to grow as more patients from north of the Sunshine Coast choose to receive treatment in the region.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Tim Nicholls said the Crisafulli Government is working to strengthen cancer care across the state.

“Innovations like this demonstrate the importance of investing in modern technology and expanding specialist services for regional Queenslanders,” Minister Nicholls said.

“Access to shorter courses of advanced cancer treatment, without needing to regularly commute to Brisbane, can make an enormous difference for patients and their families during what is often an already challenging time.

“This kind of innovation reflects the direction we want to see across Queensland’s health system, using modern technology and highly skilled clinicians to deliver better care closer to home.

"The Queensland Cancer Plan and the future Queensland Cancer Centre, will build a statewide network of specialist cancer hubs so more Queenslanders can access world-class screening, diagnosis and treatment without needing to travel long distances.”

Member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie said the Crisafulli Government was continuing to deliver a fresh start after Labor’s decade of decline on the Sunshine Coast.

“The Sunshine Coast is one of our fastest growing regions and every new and improved service we deliver to this area means more patients can receive world-class care closer to home, without needing to travel to Brisbane,” Deputy Premier Bleijie said.

“By innovating and expanding health services, the Crisafulli Government is working to heal Labor’s Health Crisis in the region.”

Sunshine Coast Health Chief Executive Dr Peter Gillies said the service expansion strengthened cancer care capability for the region. 

“This expansion is part of our broader strategy to build comprehensive cancer services locally and support our community with world-class care,” Dr Gillies said.

“It also strengthens our ability to attract and retain highly skilled clinicians, while providing accredited training opportunities across radiation oncology, urology, nursing and allied health.”

Sunshine Coast Health Senior Medical Officer Dr Dinesh Vignarajah said brachytherapy was a well-established and important component of modern cancer care.

“Brachytherapy allows radiation to be delivered to a small, very specific area of the body with high precision,” Dr Vignarajah said.

“This expanded service will make a real difference to patients by providing care close to home, with shorter treatment courses, improved outcomes and continuity of care.”

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Emma Morton, 0410 657 890