An artist’s impression of the $2.1 million Bass Coast Cancer Care Centre By Brad Lester
Bass Coast Health
WORK will start next week on Bass Coast’s new cancer care centre, which is expected to be completed by February next year.
Bass Coast Health today announced Wonthaggi firm TS Constructions had won a competitive tender process to build the $2.1 million centre.
BCH Board chair Don Paproth said the cancer centre would change people’s lives.
“Many patients will no longer have to travel to Melbourne for treatment when they are already feeling ill and enduring the financial pressures that cancer treatment presents.”
Bass Coast Health
WORK will start next week on Bass Coast’s new cancer care centre, which is expected to be completed by February next year.
Bass Coast Health today announced Wonthaggi firm TS Constructions had won a competitive tender process to build the $2.1 million centre.
BCH Board chair Don Paproth said the cancer centre would change people’s lives.
“Many patients will no longer have to travel to Melbourne for treatment when they are already feeling ill and enduring the financial pressures that cancer treatment presents.”
TS Constructions Director Trevor Bowler said up to 60 tradespeople would be involved in the peak of construction project, most of them local. “We’re just very pleased to be part of a community project such as this,” he said.
The modern treatment centre will offer nine chairs and three consulting rooms at Wonthaggi Hospital and expand the newly developed cancer service that is already being delivered in collaboration with Alfred Health.
Bass Coast Shire has one of the highest incidences of cancer of any municipality in Victoria, particularly lung cancer.
With the region’s population ageing, the incidence of cancer is likely to continue to increase, prompting even greater demand for treatment locally.
BCH engaged specialist haematologists, Doctors George Grigoriadis and Abbey Wilcox, some 18 months ago to help get the cancer service started.
Since then, BCH has developed a partnership with the oncology team from Alfred Health, who now travel to BCH to provide first class care to cancer patients at Wonthaggi Hospital.
The Cancer Centre Centre has been designed by staff and patients to give each patient views across bushland and towards the coast.
BCH CEO Jan Child said the centre will eventually be able to deliver most cancer services locally.
“We will also aim to deliver a chemotherapy service at Phillip Island once the new community hospital is built,” she said.
“We are growing our staff skills with strong support from Alfred Health and are doing some final fundraising for equipment and a healing garden to ensure we can provide the best possible experience.”
Funding for the building was provided by the Federal Government. BCH also received a large donation from an anonymous local benefactor.
People interested in providing donations towards cancer equipment or the Healing Garden should contact Jackie Goodman on 5671 3459.
Further information about Cancer Services can be obtained by phoning Operations Manager Kirsten Weinzierl on 0436 642 975.
The modern treatment centre will offer nine chairs and three consulting rooms at Wonthaggi Hospital and expand the newly developed cancer service that is already being delivered in collaboration with Alfred Health.
Bass Coast Shire has one of the highest incidences of cancer of any municipality in Victoria, particularly lung cancer.
With the region’s population ageing, the incidence of cancer is likely to continue to increase, prompting even greater demand for treatment locally.
BCH engaged specialist haematologists, Doctors George Grigoriadis and Abbey Wilcox, some 18 months ago to help get the cancer service started.
Since then, BCH has developed a partnership with the oncology team from Alfred Health, who now travel to BCH to provide first class care to cancer patients at Wonthaggi Hospital.
The Cancer Centre Centre has been designed by staff and patients to give each patient views across bushland and towards the coast.
BCH CEO Jan Child said the centre will eventually be able to deliver most cancer services locally.
“We will also aim to deliver a chemotherapy service at Phillip Island once the new community hospital is built,” she said.
“We are growing our staff skills with strong support from Alfred Health and are doing some final fundraising for equipment and a healing garden to ensure we can provide the best possible experience.”
Funding for the building was provided by the Federal Government. BCH also received a large donation from an anonymous local benefactor.
People interested in providing donations towards cancer equipment or the Healing Garden should contact Jackie Goodman on 5671 3459.
Further information about Cancer Services can be obtained by phoning Operations Manager Kirsten Weinzierl on 0436 642 975.