FEDERAL health minister Tanya Plibersek believes Bunbury’s new $27 million comprehensive cancer centre will go a long way towards attracting new health specialists to the South West.
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The Sydney-based minister made the comment when she visited the official opening of the centre at the South West Health Campus last Wednesday.
St John of God Bunbury Hospital chief executive officer Mark Grime took Mrs Plibersek on a tour of the two-storey building where she was able to talk to onsite specialists and patients.
Mrs Plibersek spoke to medical oncologist Suzanne Webb who relocated to Bunbury from Perth to take up her position at the centre.
“Although this is a world-class building, it’s not enough to just have all the equipment – you need the staff to make it work,” Mrs Plibersek said.
“Specialists will see this environment and know that they will be able to look after their patients the way they want to and deliver the best possible care.”
Mrs Plibersek also spoke to cancer patient John Vergeer as he was undergoing treatment at the centre.
Mr Vergeer was first diagnosed with cancer in August 2011 and had a relapse at Easter this year.
The East Bunbury resident said he received treatment every three weeks and he thought the new facilities were “spot on.”
“Having it here in Bunbury will make life a lot easier for patients who had to travel to Perth – when you’re having chemotherapy the last thing you want is to get in the car and drive.”
