New cancer centre for Hunter Valley

Cancer patients in New South Wales' Hunter Valley Region will soon have new treatment options much closer to home at Maitland Private Hospital.

The Healthe Care-owned facility has teamed up with Icon Group to create a comprehensive care clinic on its campus.

The services available at Icon Cancer Centre Maitland, due to open in August 2021, will mean patients no longer have to travel to Newcastle for radiation therapy treatment.

"As the only private hospital servicing the Hunter Valley Region, we are very proud to continuebuilding on our history of delivering exceptional patient care through the opening of our integratedcancer centre," Maitland Private's CEO Peter Cizzio said.

"The centre will offer a new level of healthcare services previously unavailable in theregion, saving patients from the stress of travelling in their time of need."

The clinic will feature cutting-edge technology, including an advanced VarianTrueBeam linear accelerator, with the capacity to treat over 900 new courses of radiation therapyeach year.

Patients do not require private health insurance to receive radiation therapy treatments,with up to 80-90 percent of costs reimbursed by Medicare.

"With cancer incidence ranking higher in Maitland than the Australian average, this centre will playan important role for cancer patients and their families for many years to come," Icon Group CEO Mark Middleton said.

It will be Icon's fifth centre in the state, continuing its commitment to bringing cancer care to regional and rural areas.

"Through the support of the FederalGovernment's Radiation Oncology Hospital Program Grant, which provides financialassistance to ensure the latest equipment is available in areas of need, we have the ability to offerthe Maitland community the latest approach to radiation therapy," Mr Middleton added.

Patients will be able to access all aspects of their care, from surgery and chemotherapy through to radiationtherapy and support services, in one location.

Healthe Care, Australia's third-largest private provider, said the new service would support the existing oncology programs at the East Maitland hospital.

"We're excited aboutthis opportunity for future growth of services in the Hunter Region, improving the experiences andoutcomes for patients," said Tim Yeoh, the group's Acute Services CEO for Australia.

Read more: Self Pay Surgery 'brings transparency for patients'

Read more: Icon expansion boosts cancer trials access

Next News And Innovation:
1/6/2021 Exo suits: The next step in human evolution?

Previous News And Innovation:
13/5/2021 Top award leaves nurse nearly speechless