The NSW Government has confirmed it will soon release a tender for a new medical service on the Far South Coast. Photo: Amnaj Khetsamtip.
Plans for a radiotherapy service on the NSW Far South Coast have taken a step forward, but advocates say there’s still work to be done.
NSW Health and HealthShare NSW will soon invite interested parties to respond to a Request for Proposal through the ‘’buy NSW Tenders’’ platform, with an advance notification to suppliers already released.
The proposals will then be requested to provide a general radiation therapy service in the Eurobodalla region of the Southern NSW Local Health District.
The news has made two community advocates “cautiously optimistic” about the government’s plans for the service.
ONE New Eurobodalla Level 4 Regional Hospital Advocates Group (the ONE) advocates Fitzroy and Mylene Boulting are among those who have been campaigning for a radiotherapy service based on the NSW Far South Coast.
“We’re grateful that we’ve reached this stage,” Ms Boulting said.
“It’s a big milestone on the way, [but] it’s only a milestone. A lot of things could happen between now, the call for tenders and then looking through the tenders.”
Construction on the $330 million Eurobodalla Regional Hospital started recently, with the development having the capacity to grow in response to service demand.
The hospital’s master plan has identified a future development footprint that would be able to incorporate a radiation therapy service on site, adjacent to the hospital.
Ms Boulting said the proposed service would benefit residents as they would not have to travel to Nowra, Canberra or Sydney for potentially lifesaving treatment.
Currently, the travel is unavoidable.
“For a lot of people, it means they can’t work,” Ms Boulting said. ”They have to stop working.
“They have to pay [for accommodation], because not everybody has family in Nowra or Canberra to take them in.
“They are by themselves. It’s quite difficult treatment, so you really would need support, your family.”
MPs Fiona Phillips and Dr Michael Holland say work on the long-awaited service is progressing. Photo: Supplied.
Should the project go ahead, Mr Boulting said it would benefit people from across the area.
“This is an all-of-region initiative,” he said.
“It isn’t Eurobodalla, it’s for all of us – just as much for the Bega Valley residents as well.”
The Request for Proposal follows a successful market-sounding process and the completion of a preliminary business case.
State Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland said the service was expected to sit alongside other new healthcare services.
“I’ve been watching progress very closely. This year so far there have been some great developments on site with the concrete pour in January and the recent arrival of a tower crane [during the build of the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital],” he said.
“We’re committed to building modern, accessible healthcare services for the people of the Eurobodalla region.”
Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said the tender preparations were the next step in the process.
“This is a project I have fought hard to secure for many years alongside Dr Holland and many members of our community, because local people deserve to have these lifesaving health treatments close to home,” she said.
“I am so excited to see the long-awaited new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital coming to life. This will transform the local health experience for people in our community.”
Construction of the hospital is expected to finish in 2027.
Original Article published by Claire Sams on About Regional.
