New cancer centre for Springfield

A NEW cancer care centre in Springfield is set to make a significant difference to the treatment and recovery of patients in the area.

Speaking in Springfield today, Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced plans to provide $21.4 million for a new centre that will reduce the need for patients to travel to Brisbane or Toowoomba for treatment.

Ms Gillard said the funding would improve cancer outcomes for patients in the Western Corridor - a region  identified as having a real need for radiotherapy services.

"There has been something missing," Ms Gillard said. "And that has been the ability for people to get care for cancer in their local community.

"People have had to travel to the south of Brisbane, to the Mater Hospital, to the Princess Alexandra Hospital and some people have had to make the huge journey to Toowoomba in order to get treatment.

"So that has been a real service gap here....that  needed to be filled."

Mater Health Services and the Springfield Land Corporation will work in partnership to develop the centre.

Radiation Oncology Queensland, an experienced private radiation oncology provider, will also be working in partnership to deliver expert radiation oncology services at the centre.

* For full story pick up a copy of the The Satellite Wednesday July 18 edition.