WIMMERA Cancer Centre is still more than $1 million away from achieving its vision of separate health services for chemotherapy patients.
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The fundraising campaign has met its community and state and federal funding goals, but an early estimate on how much the fully optioned centre would cost was not accurate.
Despite an anonymous individual donor contributing $250,000 towards the centre this week, a separate kidney dialysis and palliative care outpatient facility would cost an extra $1m to 1.5m
Rachael’s Wish ambassador Rachael Littore has called on the state and federal governments to pitch in to get the centre built as intended.
“At the end of the day we’re talking about people getting better,” she said.
Ms Littore helped get the community fundraising campaign off the ground but said she was now speaking as a individual and not for Rachael’s Wish.
“I’m encouraging the government to come through with the funding,” she said.
“In order for the centre to fulfill its initial aims, and increase the number of people who can get treated for cancer and dialysis as well as community palliative care, it’s really crucial that we get that funding.
“It’s not about politics, it’s about people’s lives.”
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy has circulated a petition calling for the state government to fund the shortfall.
Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy has been in talks with Wimmera Health Care Group.
“We know how important this new facility is for cancer patients in the Wimmera - that's why we invested $1m to get this project off the ground,” Ms Hennessy’s spokeswoman said.
“We are continuing to work with the health service and the federal government to determine what if any additional support is required.
“However, given hospitals are responsible for managing capital projects such as this and ensuring they are delivered on time and within budget, we do need to take the time to get to the bottom of this funding shortfall.”
Ms Kealy has been pursuing Ms Hennessy over comments she made while visiting Wimmera Base Hospital in May last year.
“The minister said that if additional funding was required, she would deliver on that.
“I’m asking on her to ensure that the Wimmera Cancer Centre is delivered in full if we possibly can.”
Ms Hennessy has said her previous comments were about a specific potential $200,000 community fundraising shortfall and not for any funding issues that might occur on the project.
Ms Kealy said she hoped to soon present a petition calling for extra funding to parliament, possibly in the middle of May.
“There’s enormous support right across the Wimmera to ensure this centre is built to include renal care and palliative care.
“We have exactly the same cramped conditions for people who are receive dialysis ant Wimmera Health Care Group and people deserve appropriate access to facilities where they have space to hold someone’s hand.
“The region deserves high quality healthcare that retain’s people’s dignity and privacy.”
In May 2015, then Prime Minister Tony Abbott committed $1 million in federal money for the cancer centre.
The state government has contributed $1 million and Wimmera businesses and the Horsham Rural City Council have donated amounts of up to $75,000.
In October, Wimmera Health Care Group revealed that the centre would be built on the corner of Arnott and Robinson Street in Horsham overlooking Jadwa Park.
Demolition works have started at the site with construction due to start in the middle of this year.