Cancer transfer

Epworth exits radiotherapy

EPWORTH HealthCare is set to transfer its public radiotherapy operations servicing cancer patients in the south west region to another company after just 18 months of operations.

Epworth HealthCare will cease its radiation oncology services at the Warrnamboolbased South West Regional Cancer Centre at the end of the year, transferring them over to Australia’s biggest dedicated cancer care provider, Icon Group.

The SWRCC was born from a Department of Health and Human Services tender in 2014.

Epworth was successful in its bid to design, construct and operate the facility which opened doors in July 2016, providing radiation oncology services to patients throughout South West Victoria at no cost.

But Epworth Group chief executive Lach Henderson said the scale and capacity of the arrangement did not prove to be viable.

“What we’ve realised is that we’re just not big enough to really make this side of the business viable,” Dr Henderson said. “It was simply logical for us to consider the potential opportunities with an industry leader with the acknowledged expertise and scale of Icon Group.”

Dr Henderson said patients would receive the same services for free and there would be no job losses.

Although Epworth will no longer provide radiotherapy services it will continue as manager of the SWRCC facility.

Icon Group chief executive Mark Middleton said his company was committed to delivering exceptional cancer care across its expanding portfolio of 12 specialist radiation oncology radiation centres across Australasia.

He said he expected a seamless transition of services.