Cancer patients in South Australia's south east say delays in establishing a promised local radiotherapy service are forcing them to move to Adelaide for months at a time to access care.
Mount Gambier was selected as one of 13 regional sites across Australia needing a new radiation therapy service under a $63-million commitment by the Coalition federal government in 2019.
While some services have progressed at towns including Griffith, Taree, Kempsey and Tweed Valley, Mount Gambier is still waiting.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin said he had been contacted by many constituents who had moved to Adelaide for months to access cancer treatment.
"It's suboptimal and it's why we have attempted to do something about it," Mr Pasin said.
"My great frustration is that, notwithstanding a tender which was prepared for … the delivery of a radiation treatment centre here in Mount Gambier, that tender wasn't accepted."
Mr Pasin described that decision as "political" and claimed the Mount Gambier service had not been supported on a state or local level because it would compromise a similar service at Warrnambool in western Victoria.
"It's about political will at a state level," Mr Pasin said.
"It came to my attention that the then (state) health minister's office had informed the federal health minister that they weren't willing to support the rollout of the Mount Gambier centre because it didn't have the support of the local Limestone Coast Local Health Network because, I was told, it would compromise the viability of the service in Warrnambool."
Mr Pasin said he was "gobsmacked" by these claims.
South east SA patients who require radiotherapy treatment must travel either to Adelaide, up to five hours away, or to Warrnambool's specialist cancer centre — a four-hour return trip from Mount Gambier.
He said federal funding for the Mount Gambier service remained available.
"We've heard the newly installed Labor state government talk a big game about supporting the south east and the regions," he said.
"Well, here's an opportunity for them, together with the local member, Troy Bell, to put the rubber on the road … and deliver a radiation therapy service based out of Mount Gambier."
In a statement to the ABC, South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton said radiation services in Warrnambool were established with the capacity to cater for people in Mount Gambier and the broader south east and that there were "no plans to review this service model".
A spokesperson for the Limestone Coast Local Health Network said it had not declined funding for radiation services in the south east.
"Radiation services in Warrnambool were established with the capacity to cater for Mount Gambier residents and the broader south east," the spokesperson said.
"Currently, there is not sufficient demand in the region to support the introduction of an additional service in Mount Gambier.
"The Limestone Coast Local Health Network continues to work with the commonwealth government at how we can best support people with cancer in our community.
"At this stage, there are no plans to review this service model."
