14 November 2005

Refurbished Bankstown oncology service opens

NSW Minister for Health John Hatzistergos today opened the newly refurbished Oncology Unit at Bankstown Hospital which was improved at a cost of $99,000.

He was joined by the Member for Bankstown, Tony Stewart MP and the Member for East Hills, Alan Ashton MP.

"This three-bed, six-chair unit provides chemotherapy services to Bankstown residents and takes referrals from across south-western Sydney," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"The unit has been fully renovated and now has more space for patients and visitors as well as two new private rooms.

"The Oncology Unit at Bankstown provides an important service to the community and the $99,000 refurbishment will greatly benefit patients.

"Cancer will affect many of us - at least one in three men and one in four women in Australia will get cancer in their lifetime," Mr Hatzistergos said.

"Services like Bankstown Hospital's Oncology Unit are important as they allow patients to receive treatment close to their home, in their own community," Mr Stewart said.

"The unit now also has a new plasma television, which was donated by LG and will soon receive six new treatment chairs donated by Bankstown Trotting and Recreational Club Bankstown Hospital Auxiliary," said Mr Stewart.

"We sincerely thank LG, Bankstown Hospital Auxiliary and Bankstown Trotting and Recreational Club for their generosity and their commitment to the hospital and to the people of Bankstown," Mr Ashton said.

"Patients undergo treatment for up to two hours at a time, so it's important that they are as comfortable as possible," said Mr Ashton.

From July 2004 to June 2005, the unit provided 2,776 chemotherapy treatments plus a further 2,200 patient consultations including consultations with palliative care and radiotherapy specialists.

The unit, which was established in 1996, also has facilities for patients to consult with palliative care and radiotherapy specialists and has a resource room available to patients and relatives, providing information on different types of cancer and chemotherapy.

For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au