Published Saturday, 02 June, 2007 at 11:30 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
$16.5 MILLION FOR NEW CANCER TREATMENT MACHINES
Three new state-of-the-art machines used to treat cancers will be purchased to increase the number of cancer patients treated each year in Queensland, Premier Peter Beattie and Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today.
Mr Beattie said Queensland Health would be buying two linear accelerators while one had already been purchased for the Princess Alexandra Hospital, at a total cost of $16.5 million.
“These new purchases will increase the total number of linear accelerators in our public hospitals to 17,” Mr Beattie said.
“The hospital locations for the new machines are yet to be determined, but they will allow our public hospitals to treat around 1200 more cancer patients each year.
“Earlier this year, Townsville boosted its linear accelerator stocks to three.
“One additional linear accelerator will start treating patients at the Princess Alexandra Hospital later this year.
Mr Robertson said the Queensland Government had provided $21.1 million for Queensland Health to replace several pieces of health technology equipment around the state by the end of June, this year.
He said replacement items associated with the diagnosis or treatment of cancer included:
• $3.11 million for a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital;
• $1.12 million for a new gamma camera at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to aid the diagnosis of cancer;
• $1.4 million for a new CT Scanner on the Gold Coast;
• $1.66 million Bi Plane Imaging System at the Prince Charles Hospital to aid the diagnosis of cancer; and
• $1.59 million Single Plane Imaging System at the Prince Charles Hospital to aid the diagnosis of cancer.
Mr Beattie said the State Budget had also delivered on the $10 Billion Health Action Plan commitment to increased recurrent funding of cancer services.
“The Health Action Plan in October 2005 committed to $463.7 million in additional funding in just over five years for new cancer services and to maintain existing cancer services,” he said.
“In 2007-08 we will spend $87.9 million on these services, up $5.1 million on last year.”
“With the increased funding we will commence new high priority cancer projects including:
• funding for Queensland Health’s central area to support the joint appointment of medical staff and outreach services including allied health; and new radiation oncology software at RBWH to support efficient operation of services and patient care;
• funded expansion of services on the Gold Coast and outreach services to Toowoomba and the Darling Downs;
• service improvements in the Northern Area focusing on psychosocial care and allied health services; and
• enhancement of screening programs.”
Saturday June 2, 2007
For more information: Josh Cooney – Minister’s Office – 0409 069 056
Mr Beattie said Queensland Health would be buying two linear accelerators while one had already been purchased for the Princess Alexandra Hospital, at a total cost of $16.5 million.
“These new purchases will increase the total number of linear accelerators in our public hospitals to 17,” Mr Beattie said.
“The hospital locations for the new machines are yet to be determined, but they will allow our public hospitals to treat around 1200 more cancer patients each year.
“Earlier this year, Townsville boosted its linear accelerator stocks to three.
“One additional linear accelerator will start treating patients at the Princess Alexandra Hospital later this year.
Mr Robertson said the Queensland Government had provided $21.1 million for Queensland Health to replace several pieces of health technology equipment around the state by the end of June, this year.
He said replacement items associated with the diagnosis or treatment of cancer included:
• $3.11 million for a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital;
• $1.12 million for a new gamma camera at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to aid the diagnosis of cancer;
• $1.4 million for a new CT Scanner on the Gold Coast;
• $1.66 million Bi Plane Imaging System at the Prince Charles Hospital to aid the diagnosis of cancer; and
• $1.59 million Single Plane Imaging System at the Prince Charles Hospital to aid the diagnosis of cancer.
Mr Beattie said the State Budget had also delivered on the $10 Billion Health Action Plan commitment to increased recurrent funding of cancer services.
“The Health Action Plan in October 2005 committed to $463.7 million in additional funding in just over five years for new cancer services and to maintain existing cancer services,” he said.
“In 2007-08 we will spend $87.9 million on these services, up $5.1 million on last year.”
“With the increased funding we will commence new high priority cancer projects including:
• funding for Queensland Health’s central area to support the joint appointment of medical staff and outreach services including allied health; and new radiation oncology software at RBWH to support efficient operation of services and patient care;
• funded expansion of services on the Gold Coast and outreach services to Toowoomba and the Darling Downs;
• service improvements in the Northern Area focusing on psychosocial care and allied health services; and
• enhancement of screening programs.”
Saturday June 2, 2007
For more information: Josh Cooney – Minister’s Office – 0409 069 056