Dear Editor
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
After a meeting with Eddie Williams, the Chairman of Cootamundra Prostate Cancer Support Group, I am compelled to make the community aware of a serious shortfall in health support and services in this the Murrumbidgee Local Health District.
The Baird Government and Minister for Health, Jillian Skinner have ignored the pleas for support, and lobbying efforts for Prostate Cancer Nurses in the MLHD.
The local Prostrate Cancer Support Groups have been pressing their local members, state and federal to act on this serious failure to provide fundamental support and health services to many men suffering and battling prostate cancer across this region of NSW.
The facts are quite alarming:
ln the period 2004 to 2008, 210 men died as a result of prostate cancer in the MLHD. This equates to a crude mortality rate of 17.6 per 100,000, which was above the NSW average of 14.3.
ln 2008, according to data, the NSW Central Cancer Registry showed, 341 men in the MLHD were diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The current rate for MLHD is L24.7 per 100,000, where the NSW average rate is 91.6.
Over the period 2009 to 2013 there were approximately 1200 men in the MLHD diagnosed with prostate cancer.
After missing out on getting PCN’s last year, for the second time, the local Prostate Cancer support groups in the MLHD, were vocally disappointed and were given the excuse, “there were just not enough funds to go round”.
During the Jane McGrath Test Cricket match, Mike Baird suddenly donates S3mill to that nationalfoundation, which was a wonderful gesture towards a great cause.
But to the L200 or so men suffering and battling prostate cancer in this region, many isolated farmers, with little or no support, that response last year “there were just not enough funds to go round”, rings pretty hollow today.
This just shows a lack of effort or inability, by the Baird government to secure adequate funding to provide essential health services to rural and regional NSW.
Charlie Sheahan
Labour candidate for
Cootamundra Electorate
