The Cairns Post

Ramp up recruiting

Cancer charity CEO blasts surgery wait

- DANIEL BATEMAN daniel.bateman@news.com.au

THE new head of a major Queensland charity says it is “unacceptab­le” for women to be waiting seven years for breast reconstruc­tive surgery at Cairns Hospital.

Newly appointed Cancer Council Queensland CEO, Chris McMillan, who visited Cairns yesterday to become better acquainted with the organisati­on’s local services, hit out at the massive delay facing women in need of the post-mastectomy operation. “It’s unacceptab­le,” she said. “There really needs to be ramping up of recruiting to have enough specialist services to ensure that (the waiting list) is reduced.

“It’s unacceptab­le for people going through post-treatment and it’s about them getting to a point of feeling great about themselves.

“That makes them feel whole in terms of their overall wellbeing and outlook on life.”

The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) is trying to recruit a specialist surgeon to replace a doctor who has resigned from the role.

Latest hospital data shows more than 30 per cent of Cairns plastic and reconstruc­tive surgery patients are not being seen within clinically recommende­d times, with some patients reporting they have been waiting seven years for a breast reconstruc­tion.

Ms McMillan said while cancer services in the Far North had vastly improved in the past decade, it was vital that locals could receive treatment and support through their local health services, rather than being sent south.

“Wrapped around that support and treatment is the fact that you need your family and support network close at hand,” she said.

“When you are going through that whole shock of diagnosis, and the long journey through treatment, you need that extra support to get you through those really dark days.

“Whilst we can be there as a guiding hand with support, there’s nothing like having your family and friends there in that local community and being in a familiar environmen­t.”

 ??  ??
 ?? Picture: JUSTIN BRIERTY ?? FINDING OUT: Newly appointed Cancer Council Queensland CEO Chris McMillan chats to cancer patient Carole Zipperer and local co-ordinator Chris Bowman.
Picture: JUSTIN BRIERTY FINDING OUT: Newly appointed Cancer Council Queensland CEO Chris McMillan chats to cancer patient Carole Zipperer and local co-ordinator Chris Bowman.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Australia