The Rosebud Cancer & Clinical Trials Hub is providing Mornington Peninsula patients with greater access to new breakthrough treatments closer to home.
Since opening in February, the Cancer & Clinical Trials Hub has provided 421 chemotherapy treatments, 13 chemotherapy education sessions, and 40 oncology outpatient reviews.
This is a significant advancement in the service Peninsula Health has been able to provide to oncology patients on the Mornington Peninsula – by comparison, the previous chemotherapy unit at Rosebud Hospital provided 302 chemotherapy treatments for the same period in 2021.
The previous service did not have sufficient facilities to provide education sessions or medical outpatient reviews, with patients needing to commute to Frankston Hospital to see an oncologist.
Medical Oncologist Joanne Lundy said the expansion of Peninsula Health’s oncology service offered immense benefits for people living with cancer on the Mornington Peninsula.
“Instead of needing to commute to Frankston, patients now have the option of accessing high-quality medical, nursing and allied health cancer services in their local community,” she said.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer these patients the same clinical trial opportunities as those available at Frankston Hospital.”
For Tootgarook resident and breast cancer patient Jennifer King, the new Cancer & Clinical Trials Hub makes accessing treatment easier.
After receiving treatment at Frankston Hospital, and at the previous chemotherapy unit at Rosebud Hospital, for the past five years, Ms King is now able to access clinical trials and receive treatment closer to home.
Ms King said she was grateful she now didn’t have to travel as far to receive world-class treatment.
“Some patients suffer from anxiety when they are undergoing chemotherapy, so having access to breakthrough treatments closer to home can help reduce some of that stress,” she said.
Once her current course of treatment is complete, Ms King will take part in one of 22 cancer trials at the new Rosebud Cancer & Clinical Trials Hub.
The Rosebud Cancer & Clinical Trials Hub is a partnership between Peninsula Health, Alfred Health and Monash University, supported by the Federal Government. The new facility has opened up further opportunities for the local Mornington Peninsula community to access quality healthcare at their doorstep.