Constituency Question – GV Health cancer centre

Constituency question

My question is for the Minister for Health.

Minister, the question I ask is whether my constituents in the Shepparton district, and in particular at Goulburn Valley Health, can reasonably expect to have the benefit of a local cancer centre providing radiotherapy treatment to save them the disruption of travelling long distances when they are so ill.

As I travel through my electorate I am frequently approached by constituents who are concerned about the lack of radiotherapy services in Shepparton. I am constantly reminded by constituents of the emotional and physical toll on patients and families who are forced to travel for hours on end to Melbourne, Albury-Wodonga or Bendigo to access short daily bursts of radiotherapy treatment. It is a traumatic experience for many, and not having friends, family or community support for weeks on end when they need to stay away from home can be a real trauma and not help their recovery.

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