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House of Assembly - Fifty-First Parliament, Third Session (51-3)
2009-06-17 Daily Xml
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LYELL McEWIN HEALTH SERVICE

The Hon. L. STEVENS (Little Para) (15:38): I would like to make a few remarks today about the Lyell McEwin Health Service. The minister referred to an event that occurred last week when the new linear accelerator radiotherapy treatment facility was opened. As he said, I was invited as the local member but, of course, I have a great deal of interest in this particular facility, because the Lyell McEwin Health Service has been of great interest to me during all of my career as the member for Little Para but certainly when I was minister for health. In fact, the $7 million for that linear accelerator, I think, came into one of the last budgets before I left that position.

It was a great occasion at the Lyell McEwin Health Service, firstly, to see the facility. It is state-of-the-art, large, high-tech. We saw a demonstration of how it would work. There was great enthusiasm by staff who are looking forward to being able to offer a very important service not only to the people from the north and within the immediate vicinity but also to people coming from further afield who live closer to the Lyell McEwin Health Service than the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

It was a good opportunity to reflect on just how far the Lyell McEwin Health Service has come over recent years. There was a time when it was considered—and it was—the poor cousin of the hospital and health services in South Australia. People in the north preferred to bypass the Lyell McEwin Hospital and go elsewhere for treatment. I am very pleased to say that that is no longer the case. This is just another addition to the fantastic changes that have occurred at that site. In particular, I would like to commend not only the current chief executive, David Miller, and the staff in the radiation oncology area at the Lyell McEwin Health Service but also the staff at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and those in the cancer care network who work together to ensure that this facility is as good as it is.

One of the most significant issues that came up in conversation was the fact that just as the residents of the northern suburbs have a generally lower health status than residents in other areas, the situation has also affected their access to treatment such as this. Cancer experts said that, because people in the north did not access radiotherapy treatment services, their cancer situations became much more serious because they did not get the early intervention treatment this linear accelerator and associated therapies provide, and that meant, of course, worse outcomes for these people.

This is what happens in situations where people cannot get access. We know that, on average, it will save people 30 trips to the city. Not only will it save patients their time and discomfort but also it saves them in terms of travel, use of cars and other areas. It was a great thing to see. The improvements to the Lyell McEwin Health Service will continue to roll along over the coming years. It really will be a fantastic addition to health facilities in South Australia, as well as to the spine of the three hospitals that will then exist in Adelaide.

Time expired.

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