National healthcare services provider GenesisCare has joined forces with the state government in a move that will more than double the treatment capacity for cancer patients in Western Australia over the next four years.
Health Minister Kim Hames announced a $200 million contract had been awarded to GenesisCare to provide the latest cancer treatment technology and enhanced radiotherapy services at Royal Perth and Fiona Stanley Hospitals, and a new $15.2 million cancer centre in Bunbury from July this year.
Outreach clinics will also be provided for patients across regional and rural Western Australia that currently do not have easy access to the highest standards of care.
The contract is for up to 18 years and was signed December 24.
The move ensures that public hospital patients will no longer experience out of pocket costs relating to radiotherapy treatments.
Dr Hames said radiotherapy equipment at Royal Perth Hospital would be replaced in July, when GenesisCare took over from the current service provider, Perth Radiation Oncology.
"Perth Radiation Oncology has provided an excellent service to patients at Royal Perth Hospital over the past 16 years, but that contract is now coming to an end," Dr Hames said in a statement released today.
"The new contract has undergone a thorough evaluation process and I am confident that GenesisCare will continue to provide the same high level of service we have come to expect."
The radiation oncology service at Royal Perth Hospital will move to Fiona Stanley Hospital when it opens in 2014.
GenesisCare managing director, Dan Collins, said the joint initiative would be a major boost to cancer patients in the state.
"This level of cancer care has never been offered to public patients by State Governments in Australia and it is a tribute to the vision of the WA Health Department and State Government that they have sought to bring best-practice cancer care to all West Australians," Mr Collins said.
"The patient experience will be transformed.
"By providing faster access to higher standards of care patient outcomes will improve.
"We're making it easier for patients and their carers as they traverse their difficult personal journey."
