“I’m very excited. Driving to Melbourne and finding a car park is just a level of anxiety for cancer patients; it is overwhelming at the time of going through treatment, so to have care close to home is very important,” Ms De Paola said.
Ms De Paola recalled a “stressful” time going through her own cancer treatment, emphasising the importance of removing complications to make what was already a difficult journey a little smoother.
“Just being close when you’re not feeling the best, when you’ve got challenges, being in your own bed, being close to family and friends; that support network is very important with healing and recovery, so I think this (announcement) is very welcomed by our patients and by our community.”
She said a fully integrated cancer care centre would also, importantly, help retain the hospital’s “incredible” oncology staff.
Liberal leader Jess Wilson was at GV Health in Shepparton on October 7 with her Liberals and Nationals team, including Nationals candidate for Shepparton Shane Sali, to make the announcement.
“We will ensure that we bring cancer treatment on to one site here ... so that cancer patients can come to this site and receive comprehensive cancer care, including radiotherapy treatment, haematology and oncology treatment spaces, a support and wellbeing centre providing the clinical spaces, the research spaces, to make sure that this location is providing the quality services that Shepparton locals deserve,” Ms Wilson said.
She said the money to fund the centre would come from $24 billion of savings, “including the hiring freeze on back office workers in the public service”.
Stage one of the build is currently under way and expected to be complete in around 18 months.
Ms Wilson said stage two would “dovetail” off stage one, with the funding delivered over the next four years.
“We’re focused on getting this centre built and getting the services here on site so that patients don’t have to navigate a fragmented system ... this is a priority for us in our first term of government,” she said.
While the commitment hinges on the Coalition coming into power after the November 28 election, Ms De Paola — who has no plans to decelerate the foundation’s current $5 million community fundraising appeal for the centre if that happens — would now like to see the other parties match the pledge.
“We would love everyone, our other candidates, to make that same announcement and promise ideally, so that no matter what the outcome (of the election) is, we've got stage two committed,” she said.
“We want to go into the election knowing no matter what the outcome, we're going to get stage two, because we’re just getting further behind.”
GV Health is the only one of six designated major regional health services that doesn’t have an integrated cancer centre.
Funds raised by GV Health Foundation’s community fundraiser, if not needed for the actual build, will be put towards enhancements and equipment.
“It will have a huge impact,” Ms De Paola said, as she urged continued community support for the campaign.
“The longer we leave it (the construction), the more our costs increase.”
