THE HON. GREG HUNT MP
Federal Member for Flinders
Minister for Health and Aged Care
MEDIA RELEASE
Rosebud’s new Cancer Clinical Trials Hub will give Mornington Peninsula patients the opportunity to access new breakthrough treatments closer to home.
Through the Community Health and Hospitals Program (CHHP), the Australian Government provided $24.6 million to Alfred Health and Monash University to help regional and remote Victorians gain access to clinical trials.
This team has now partnered with Peninsula Health to establish a regional base – the Rosebud Cancer Clinical Trials Hub – in Rosebud West which will initially focus on rare cancers, prostate cancer and melanoma.
Federal Member for Flinders the Hon. Greg Hunt MP said that Rosebud’s Trials Hub will facilitate equitable access to high quality cancer clinical trials and bridge the metro-regional healthcare gap in Victoria.
“As we all know, combating cancer is a difficult journey for patients and their families, so Rosebuds new Clinical Trials Hub will make a vital difference to Mornington Peninsula patients and beyond.” Minister Hunt said.
“Rosebud’s new Trials Hub will boost opportunities for Australians to participate in clinical trials of new high quality treatments and other interventions no matter where they live.”
“This contribution to Alfred Health and Monash University to establish these new trial hubs demonstrates the Morrison Government’s clear commitment to ensuring that all Australians can access quality health care, when and where they need it.”
Peninsula Health has an established clinical trial unit at Frankston Hospital, where 22 clinical trials are currently open. However, travel to the hospital for southern Peninsula residents has been a barrier to their participation, which will be relieved by the new satellite centre.
The centre will initially focus on implementing a teletrial model to improve access for patients, developing the workforce and upskilling staff, and identifying further suitable trials for the region.
The centre will double the capacity of Peninsula Health to deliver chemotherapy at Rosebud and offer outpatient and education appointments.
The project is part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring all Australians can access quality health care, when and where they need it.
Research and clinical trials are an important part of this commitment, with the Government working to:
- Increase the numbers of centres that conduct clinical trials
- Increase the number of early career clinician researchers in specialist disciplines
- Improve the feasibility of conducting trials for rare diseases
- Increase investment in high need diseases and populations
- Increase standards of clinical care through rapid translation of research and linkage with clinical quality registries.
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