A regional health bureaucracy has been blocked from spending $4.3 million on hospital upgrades rather than radiation treatment services in the Limestone Coast.

But only until a feasibility study for radiation therapy has been completed.

Then SA Health Minister Chris Picton will make a decision. Whether to spend the $4.3 million on Mount Gambier Hospital upgrades including car parking, a reception area, consulting rooms, and a respite room for staff under the banner of a “cancer care suite”.

Or to spend the funds on providing a radiation therapy service – which is what Member for Barker Tony Pasin in 2019 secured the $4.3 million of taxpayer funds for in the first place.

The issue arose last week during Mr Picton’s two day whistle stop tour of the South East.

“Working with the local Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN) board, it makes sense to not complete the tendering process for the Mount Gambier cancer care centre until the feasibility study is complete,” Mr Picton said.

He pledged while the study was underway, the government and LCLHN “will not sign any contracts to start construction on the cancer care centre upgrades”.

But, according to Mr Picton’s press release, “design work” would continue on the cancer centre upgrades, regardless of the feasibility study.

The feasibility study for radiation therapy services in Mount Gambier is set to go to tender within the next few weeks, but local groups have not yet been contacted regarding a scoping document.

“The study will be undertaken by an independent consultant and will engage with a wide range of health and community stakeholders, including the Radiation Treatment Limestone Coast Working Party as well as experts in radiation oncology,” Mr Picton’s media statement says.

It reiterates a July 26 pledge by the State Government that the $4.3 million would remain unspent until a feasibility study was complete.

Naracoorte based Limestone Coast Radiation Therapy Working Group chairman Lachlan Haynes said he welcomed the minister’s announcement.

Mr Haynes said the `cancer suite’ spending was “unequivocally halted and the $4.3 million quarantined – and that is what the group has been calling for”.

“We of course will keep advocating for radiation treatment in the Limestone Coast and celebrate the minister listening to our calls to guarantee the $4.3 million will remain for its intended purpose for such a service in the region,” Mr Haynes said.

“We also welcome and strongly encourage the advancement of the feasibility study and are hopeful it commences soon.

“Our wish is they do as they have announced and genuinely consult with us as a working party, and we build a constructive working relationship, representing the residents of the Limestone Coast and their desire for improved cancer treatment in the region.

“It is good they (the minister and LCLHN board members) are committed to engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, particularly cancer treatment service providers who were recently guests at the well attended community forum.

“Whilst we absolutely welcome the minister’s assurances and his visit to the region, we are disappointed that he did not have time to meet with us.”

Mr Haynes said once again he extended to Mr Picton “our long standing and open invitation to facilitate a meeting whenever he visits the region”

Member for Barker Tony Pasin said following the July 26 announcement, he had already congratulated Mr Picton for holding the $4.3 million, unspent.

“I commend (Mr Picton) on listening to the community and arriving at this position, despite the LCLHN resolving in May of this year to proceed with spending the Federal Government funding on an integrated cancer consult suite at the Mount Gambier hospital,” Mr Pasin said.

“I look forward to the community being part of the feasibility study as agreed, although to date I note that the radiation treatment for the Limestone Coast working party is yet to be contacted in relation to the scoping document.

“I also note that no contact has been made with the radiation therapy advisory group in relation to the scoping document of feasibility study.”

Mr Pasin said he hoped he would be kept updated about the feasibility study.

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.

Related stories: Radiation Treatment Limestone Coast Working Party – community forum, Radiation submission lodged, Radiation funds diverted