Thousands of residents across the Border and Northern Victoria are getting the lifesaving care they need, close to home with Echuca's Cancer and Wellness Centre now open.
Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas today officially opened the new state-of-the-art centre which will support more than 1,200 patients each year get the world-class cancer care they need and deserve.
Construction of a new multi-million-dollar centre finished late last year with Echuca Regional Health relocating their existing cancer care into the new purpose-built facility.
Providing specialist cancer and dialysis treatment, the new centre features 12 new chemotherapy/haemodialysis treatment chairs and gives patients access to medical oncologists, nephrologists, and radiation oncologists - along with other support workers - under one roof, providing an easier, patient-centred approach to care.
It also features co-located specialist consulting rooms, purpose-built treatment areas allowing specialist nursing staff, pharmacy and allied health staff to provide a more holistic approach to care.
Designed to provide a calm and welcoming environment for patients and families, the centre offers wellness programs focused on physical and emotional health and wellbeing during treatment and recovery.
The modern design incorporates flexible spaces to offer increased privacy for patients and allows families and carers to interact with clinical teams and other support workers - while also providing a better and more efficient working environment for staff.
The Andrews Labor Government invested $6 million to deliver the project with further support from the NSW Government and Echuca Regional Health.
As stated by Minister for Health Mary-Anne Thomas
"We've delivered this new centre so people with cancer don't have to travel long distances, away from their family and friends, to receive the treatment and care they need and deserve."
"Patients in Echuca now have access to high quality care in a modern and comfortable environment with the very best medical technology."
As stated by Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes
"The new centre is giving our hardworking healthcare workers, the state-of-the-art facilities they need, to deliver Victorians with cancer the very best care."
