THE Opposition has accused the Government of breaking an election promise on cancer services in the North-West.
Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said new figures showed that more than 300 patients from the North-West travelled to Launceston and Hobart for radiation therapy in 2009-10.
"It is estimated that each cancer patient from the North-West will travel an average of 9000km in the course of their treatment, with each course of radiation requiring an average of 21 visits," Mr Hodgman said.
"These patients will be forced to continue to travel, putting additional pressure on their health and family relationships at a time it can be least afforded."
Mr Hodgman said that many cancer patients from the North-West chose not to undergo treatment because of the difficulties of travelling.
"In the election campaign, the Premier, David Bartlett, said he would fast-track the North-West cancer clinic to enable full services to be available before 2016. Now, after the election, he's broken that promise and the timeline has blown out another two years," he said.
But Health Minister Michelle O'Byrne said the State Government would abide by a commitment to deliver world-class cancer services to Tasmanians living in the North-West.
"Currently, northern Tasmania has a demonstrated need for three linear accelerators," she said.
"The centre at the LGH will have three linear accelerators in October 2010."
Ms O'Byrne said a fourth linear accelerator would be provided in the North-West when there was sufficient demand for a viable service.
In February the Australian Medical Association spoke out against plans for a linear accelerator at the North-West Regional Hospital, saying the population of 100,000 was too small to support such a machine in Burnie.
Ms O'Byrne said the State Government would apply for a linear accelerator licence for the North-West before 2018.
Opposition Leader Will Hodgman said new figures showed that more than 300 patients from the North-West travelled to Launceston and Hobart for radiation therapy in 2009-10.
"It is estimated that each cancer patient from the North-West will travel an average of 9000km in the course of their treatment, with each course of radiation requiring an average of 21 visits," Mr Hodgman said.
"These patients will be forced to continue to travel, putting additional pressure on their health and family relationships at a time it can be least afforded."
Mr Hodgman said that many cancer patients from the North-West chose not to undergo treatment because of the difficulties of travelling.
"In the election campaign, the Premier, David Bartlett, said he would fast-track the North-West cancer clinic to enable full services to be available before 2016. Now, after the election, he's broken that promise and the timeline has blown out another two years," he said.
But Health Minister Michelle O'Byrne said the State Government would abide by a commitment to deliver world-class cancer services to Tasmanians living in the North-West.
"Currently, northern Tasmania has a demonstrated need for three linear accelerators," she said.
"The centre at the LGH will have three linear accelerators in October 2010."
Ms O'Byrne said a fourth linear accelerator would be provided in the North-West when there was sufficient demand for a viable service.
In February the Australian Medical Association spoke out against plans for a linear accelerator at the North-West Regional Hospital, saying the population of 100,000 was too small to support such a machine in Burnie.
Ms O'Byrne said the State Government would apply for a linear accelerator licence for the North-West before 2018.
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