News

Healthcare leaders improving access to cancer care for Hunter residents

Aug 01, 2011

GenesisCare and Lake Macquarie Private Hospital have combined in a partnership that will see essential radiation oncology services provided at the Hospital and will improve overall care and access for cancer patients in the Hunter Valley.

In a first for the region, Lake Macquarie Private Hospital will provide comprehensive, private cancer treatment services.  This will be the first and only private radiation oncology service in the Newcastle and Hunter region.

GenesisCare will deliver radiation oncology services to accompany the existing medical oncology, day chemotherapy and cancer surgery services offered by Lake Macquarie Private Hospital.

The benefits for those undergoing treatment for cancer in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the broader Hunter Region will be significant.

Chief Executive Officer of Lake Macquarie Private Hospital, Mr John Pitsonis, said “This announcement is the culmination of extensive consultation and planning between GenesisCare, Ramsay Health Care and local Radiation and Medical Oncologists”.

The Radiation Oncology Unit at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital will form part of a comprehensive range of private cancer services and supplement the Hospital’s existing range of specialist medical, diagnostic and surgical services.

“The provision of Radiation Oncology services compliments the existing range of cancer treatment services provided at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital as well as the comprehensive range of public cancer treatment services available within the Hunter New England Area Health Service,” Mr Pitsonis said.

Speaking on behalf of local Radiation Oncologists, Dr Anne Capp said: “The development of a new, private radiation oncology service will benefit cancer patients in the Hunter region by increasing local capacity and offering patient choice”.

Dr Peter O'Brien added: “This much needed addition to radiation oncology services will provide the people of Newcastle with state-of-the-art cancer care and treatment as part of a new comprehensive service”.

“The new centre will help relieve pressure on current radiotherapy services and most importantly reduce the enormous emotional burden for patients by improving access”, he said.

Planning has commenced with the unit set to be open late 2013.

Managing Director of Genesis CancerCare, Mr Dan Collins, said “As a result of the introduction of GenesisCare cancer services into Lake Macquarie Private Hospital, cancer patients in the Hunter region will benefit from some of the most advanced Radiation Oncology treatment techniques, technology, clinical professionals and facilities available in Australia. We are pleased to be partnering alongside Ramsay in this initiative where the best of both organisations combines together for real patient benefits”.

About GenesisCare

GenesisCancerCare is part of the Australian owned and operated health services organisation, GenesisCare. The organisation is focused on its vision of “sustainable care excellence” expanding the quality, reach and access of specialist services around Australia.

GenesisCare provides high quality specialist care to patients with cancer and cardiovascular disease, the two largest disease burdens in Australia, employing over 1000 highly trained health professionals and support staff including more than 100 physicians.

In New South Wales GenesisCare already provides advanced radiotherapy services and essential care to cancer patients at Macquarie University Hospital, the Mater Hospital and St Vincents Hospital. The Radiation Oncology Unit at Lake Macquarie Private Hospital will link into these existing local cancer services which form part of GenesisCare’s national network of treatment centres. 

The GenesisCare medical team comprises some of Australia's most experienced specialists with many dedicating time as consultants in public hospitals or participating in research and teaching. GenesisCare is adopting internationally proven medical technologies integrated with electronic healthcare records to improve patient clinical outcomes and their service experience.

About Lake Macquarie Private Hospital

Lake Macquarie Private hospital is a 149 bed acute medical and surgical private hospital located at Gateshead. Founded in 1974, the hospital is owned and operated by Ramsay Health Care, Australia’s largest private hospital operator.

Lake Macquarie Private Hospital is Newcastle and the Hunter’s only licensed, private provider of Cardiac Surgery services. Other major specialties include Thoracic Surgery, Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiology, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery, General, Bariatric, Breast and Colorectal Surgery, Urology, Gynaecology, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Maxillo-Facial and Oral Surgery.

Lake Macquarie Private Hospital features a 10 bed, Level 2 Intensive Care Unit, 12 bed Coronary Care Unit, 7 Operating Rooms, 2 Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratories, Endovascular Laboratory, 8 bed Day Surgery Unit and an 8 bed Day Oncology Unit.

Lake Macquarie Private Hospital is ISO 9001 certified and is a recognised provider of clinical training for Medical, Health Sciences and Nursing students from the University of Newcastle."