July 2, 2020
A petition calling for the appointment of a Specialist Cancer Nurse in the South Burnett is being supported by Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington.
Mrs Frecklington said she had been approached by members of the community who had previously used a similar service and were disappointed to hear it would no longer be available.
“A Cancer Care Nurse Navigator was operating in the South Burnett for nearly two years and had become a valued service,” Mrs Frecklington said.
“Local cancer patients appreciated and needed this tailored health care.
“In fact, when the service ceased in late 2019, there were 76 active clients, with 10-12 new referrals each month.”
Mrs Frecklington said the South Burnett was a cancer hot spot, with the number of people dying from cancer in Murgon, Cherbourg and Wondai 15 per cent above the national average, and 9 per cent above the average in Kingaroy.
“In February this year I wrote to the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service Board calling for the reinstatement of this specialist role,” she said.
“However, they have noted that the role will now be general and not specific to a particular disease.
“While I appreciate this new role is also important, cancer patients are telling me that they are very disappointed to lose this essential cancer specific service, which guided them through their cancer journey.”
The petition calling for the appointment of a Specialist Cancer Nurse in the South Burnett is being supported by principal petitioner Eric Cross.
Both Eric and his wife Carla have survived cancer and in 2019 were the Faces of the South Burnett Relay for Life.
“The petition will be available in hard copy format from various members of the community, as well as at Mrs Frecklington’s Electorate Office in Alford Street, Kingaroy.
It can also be signed online
The petition will close on August 28, 2020.
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Signed.
It was such a comfort to know that the Cancer Nurse was there for me while I was going through cancer. I feel it is a very important service.
Definitely a need!
My 76-year-old mother had need of this service while she was treated for cancer last year. As an older woman I don’t know how she would have coped without it, she was confused with a lot of the hospital appointments and medical lingo.