Bone marrow treatment unit to provide top- quality care
Cancer ward boost
TOWNSVILLE Hospital has received a $ 1.56 million funding injection to upgrade its oncology ward and create a dedicated bone marrow treatment unit.
Health Minister Cameron Dick announced six singlebed rooms would be built as part of the upgrade.
The rooms will be positively pressurised, helping to reduce the infection risks for patients suffering from bone and blood cancers.
“That will help them in their struggle against cancer and help improve their survival rate from cancer we hope,” he said. “This is an important investment for the community of North Queensland.”
Mr Dick said the new facility would allow for work towards accreditation for bone marrow transplants involving people other than relatives. At the moment the hospital can only use stem cells from family members.
“The meaning of that is that people in the north of our state won’t have to travel to Brisbane for treatment,” Mr Dick said. “So this is a signifi-
People in the north of our state won’t have to travel to Brisbane for treatment CAMERON DICK
cant investment in an important hospital in our health system in Queensland. What it will do is allow Townsville to be part of delivering worldclass cancer treatment.
“The end point of where we want to go is no one has to leave the North to get that treatment, they can get it at home and close to their family, which is a great treatment outcome.”
Director of haematology and bone marrow transplantation Ian Irving said the hospital would look at having the upgrade under way by the end of the year.
“It’s the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle we’re putting in place here,” he said. “I think it’s welcomed by the patients and it just gives us the next level that you only get at the moment in capital cities.”
Meanwhile, Mr Dick con- firmed that Townsville’s hospital board members would remain unchanged in the wake of the election.
The assurance comes after board chairman John Bearne admitted he was unsure about the future of his position following the election of the Labor Government.
Mr Dick said he hadn’t spoken to anyone in Townsville about changing the board and positions would be advertised when vacancies came up.
“We’ve said we don’t intend any major changes to the board system or the people who are appointed to the board.’’