DEAR News Of The Area,
HERE we go again.
At the Coffs Harbour Mid North Coast Cancer Institute, the superficial ortho voltage radiotherapy unit used to treat complex skin cancers, mainly in the elderly, has reached the end of its life and is not going to be replaced.
However, the same situation has arisen in Port Macquarie and the decision has been made to replace it!
When these machines were first installed 17 or so years ago the original plan of the NSW Department of Health was to install one in Port Macquarie but not in Coffs Harbour.
Eventually this decision was changed and Coffs was included but only after adverse publicity.
Why has Mid North Coast Local Health made this decision?
It’s interesting that over the last two years Shearwater Lodge and the Coffs Harbour Rotary Club have donated $250,000 to enable the MNCCI to introduce updated SABR treatment for prostate, kidney and other abdominal cancers which will greatly benefit patients being treated in both Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie.
This treatment would not otherwise have been available before the end of the decade due to funding limitations.
Incidentally, Port Macquarie did not contribute any funds to the two SABR projects.
Regards,
Dr Paul MORAN (retired),
Coffs Harbour.
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