Mrs BRAHAM - 2005-10-12
I received representation 10 days ago that the Northern Territory’s only oncologist is leaving at the end of the year. I understand it has been very difficult to get a replacement for him. It has been proposed that a fortnightly visiting service may take over. As you would appreciate, that is really not good enough for people who are being treated with cancer. Can you give me some up-to-date information on when you will appoint a new oncologist?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, yes, the member is quite correct that we are attempting to find a replacement oncologist to take over from the specialist we are losing. The attempts to do that started on 30 July. We had not located a would-be applicant to take up a position in the Northern Territory at that stage. Headhunting efforts have continued since then, though, and are continuing as I speak, to look for a person who could base themselves in the Northern Territory as distinct from a visiting service. It is a very competitive market. We are finding it is, obviously, going to take a lot of work to get such a specialist here. We are working with the heads of interstate oncology units to see if they can put the word around that we are looking for a specialist. Funnily enough, when we advertised that position we also advertised for a haematologist. We got one of those, so we just have to get the other position filled.
Whilst we are on how the service is going to be carried in the meantime, we have advertised for a new nurse coordinator position in line with the support services for oncology patients that we announced prior to the election. The coordination and planning position is expected to commence work at the end of this month. This position will also oversight the required data collection for patients involved in receiving the latest treatments available through the national trials that are going on at the moment.
Additional to that, we have an ongoing and deepening relationship with Royal Adelaide Hospital. In fact, the Royal Adelaide oncologists are already providing a visiting service to Alice Springs Hospital ...
Madam SPEAKER: Can I just ask whoever’s phone that is to take it out of the House. Thank you. We are having an issue with mobile phones today.
Dr TOYNE: Why does this always happen to me, Madam Speaker? It is some sort of plot.
To return to the task at hand, the Royal Adelaide Hospital will continue to provide a visiting service to Alice Springs. I was speaking to an oncology patient the other day who is receiving follow-up monitoring and treatment for a condition that he had, he is now quite comfortable with the visiting service in Alice Springs. I believe it can work in many circumstances; however, it is not as good as having a Territory-based specialist. We are using videoconferencing facilities to link to multidisciplinary teams which allows our hospitals to work together with people interstate.
Member for Braitling, it is a very valid question. We are certainly as anxious as you are to see the position filled. The position is there; there is no problem about paying a person to work for us, we just have to find them.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, yes, the member is quite correct that we are attempting to find a replacement oncologist to take over from the specialist we are losing. The attempts to do that started on 30 July. We had not located a would-be applicant to take up a position in the Northern Territory at that stage. Headhunting efforts have continued since then, though, and are continuing as I speak, to look for a person who could base themselves in the Northern Territory as distinct from a visiting service. It is a very competitive market. We are finding it is, obviously, going to take a lot of work to get such a specialist here. We are working with the heads of interstate oncology units to see if they can put the word around that we are looking for a specialist. Funnily enough, when we advertised that position we also advertised for a haematologist. We got one of those, so we just have to get the other position filled.
Whilst we are on how the service is going to be carried in the meantime, we have advertised for a new nurse coordinator position in line with the support services for oncology patients that we announced prior to the election. The coordination and planning position is expected to commence work at the end of this month. This position will also oversight the required data collection for patients involved in receiving the latest treatments available through the national trials that are going on at the moment.
Additional to that, we have an ongoing and deepening relationship with Royal Adelaide Hospital. In fact, the Royal Adelaide oncologists are already providing a visiting service to Alice Springs Hospital ...
Madam SPEAKER: Can I just ask whoever’s phone that is to take it out of the House. Thank you. We are having an issue with mobile phones today.
Dr TOYNE: Why does this always happen to me, Madam Speaker? It is some sort of plot.
To return to the task at hand, the Royal Adelaide Hospital will continue to provide a visiting service to Alice Springs. I was speaking to an oncology patient the other day who is receiving follow-up monitoring and treatment for a condition that he had, he is now quite comfortable with the visiting service in Alice Springs. I believe it can work in many circumstances; however, it is not as good as having a Territory-based specialist. We are using videoconferencing facilities to link to multidisciplinary teams which allows our hospitals to work together with people interstate.
Member for Braitling, it is a very valid question. We are certainly as anxious as you are to see the position filled. The position is there; there is no problem about paying a person to work for us, we just have to find them.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016