The proponents of a proposed cancer radiation clinic in Mount Gambier say the project can still get off the ground despite a government funding shortfall.
Cancer care services group Icon submitted plans to the federal government in 2021, but the then-Coalition government only offered it funding if it shared the cost with the state.
Last week, SA Health Minister Chris Picton confirmed the state government would not be funding the centre at this stage after feedback from the Limestone Coast Local Health Network (LCLHN).
It cited concerns over the ability of specialist staff to be attracted and retained to the area, maintaining specialist equipment, services to care for patients who became ill post-radiation therapy, and governance issues as reasons to decline funding.
Icon Group global chief executive Mark Middleton said despite the setback, he wanted to push ahead with the project and eventually secure funding.
"We are absolutely dedicated to providing cancer services to regional Australia and in this instance regional South Australia," he said.
"We've made a significant investment in South Australia over the past couple of years.
"So we would welcome the conversation [with the LCLHN]. Anytime we can work with partners to help people in regional locations have increased access to cancer care, we would welcome it."
Centre would be 'boost' for locals
Mount Gambier man Richard Harry is a prostate cancer survivor and knows the importance of having treatment services close to home.
He is the leader of a group that has been running a petition looking to gather as many names as possible in support of a radiation centre in the region.
"When you get a prognosis of cancer it's very frightening, and I'm not saying that lightly. It scares the pants off you," Mr Harry said.
"If you have your family and friends around to support you, it's just an enormous boost to you.
"But if you have to go away for treatment, you've lost all that."
He said the centre would open up treatment options and improve the wellbeing of cancer patients, who would be able to continue to live their regular lives during treatment.
"I believe there will be a massive public push for this because I don't think there are many people who haven't had a member of their family or a friend diagnosed with cancer," he said.
"I think we need, as a community, to push this like crazy and make the politicians sit up and say 'oh, there's thousands of signatures here, maybe we should do something'."
Funding for other upgrades
LCLHN chair Grant King said the network did not see a detailed business case for the radiation clinic until late 2022, as Icon's initial application was for Federal funding.
He said the submission's shortfalls meant the network could not put its full support behind the project at this stage.
"We're addressing the deficiencies in that former bid, we want more information around the circumstances we think need to be addressed," Mr King said.
"There's a whole range of questions that are unanswered in the business proposal and we've had dialogue with Icon and we'll have further dialogue with them and the state minister.
"We will continue to improve our capability to service cancer patients, we want to have care as close to home as possible and this will be an ongoing piece of work."
The federal government confirmed it would be funding upgrades to the Mount Gambier Hospital chemotherapy unit to create a cancer care centre "with a focus on wellness and holistic care".
