Minister Clare Scriven has emphasised the importance of safety regarding the establishment of a radiation treatment centre in the Limestone Coast.

When the petition for the centre was tabled in parliament earlier this month, a meeting was held with the Radiation Treatment Limestone Coast Working Party, Health and Wellbeing Minister Chris Picton, Minister Scriven and Limestone Coast Local Health Network chief executive Ngaire Buchanan.

“I was pleased to join a meeting with Health Minister Chris Picton, as we know this is an important issue for our community,” Minister Scriven said.

“Services for cancer treatment in the Limestone Coast is incredibly important to our community in the South East.

“However, the petition does not say whether radiation therapy services in Mount Gambier could be delivered safely.

“The Local Health Board in their statement refer to the difficulties that would exist in terms of clinical safety and will conduct a proper feasibility study around how radiation therapy services could be delivered safely.

“Just two years ago the former Federal and State Liberal Governments outright rejected establishing radiation oncology in Mount Gambier.

“There was federal funding, there was a tender, and the Liberals decided to reject it.

“I understand the Liberals rejected the proposal because of safety and quality concerns – but the Liberals need to explain why that occurred.

“I think it’s incredibly important that we do see whether there is a way to deliver radiation therapy services safely in the Limestone Coast, because safety has to be the number one consideration.

“The feasibility study will enable an accurate, complete and full explanation.”