Qld: Regional cancer patients wait up to 15 weeks for treatment
A major hospital servicing a huge chunk of regional Australia has admitted cancer patientsare waiting up to 15 weeks for treatment.
The revelation comes as a new study finds people in the bush have lower cancer survivalrates than their city counterparts.
The Townsville Hospital, which treats patients from across north Queensland, says the15-week wait for radiation therapy is due to a shortage of therapists.
A hospital spokeswoman says the delay jumped from eight weeks in late March due toseveral public holidays and the pending departure of one therapist.
Queensland Cancer Fund spokesman PAUL TURNER says as far as he's aware, the TownsvilleHospital wait is probably the worst in Australia.
Mr TURNER says the international recommended maximum wait for category three patients,the least-urgent category, is three weeks.
He says at Royal Brisbane Hospital, category two patients -- those with aggressivecancers -- are having to wait up to nine weeks.
AAP RTV jb/sc/kn/rp
KEYWORD: CANCER (TOWNSVILLE)
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