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WELLBEING & ACCOMMODATION UNIT TO GO AHEAD
LNP Candidate for Leichhardt Warren Entsch today announced $5 million to build the COUCH Wellbeing & Accommodation Unit.
“This is a project that is essential for our region and I am delighted to be making this announcement today of $5 million to get this project well underway and give cancer sufferers of the Far North what they deserve. This Wellness and Accommodation Centre is to assist those who have just completed treatment and for relatives and carers of those undergoing treatment. It is the second stage of the COUCH vision and under the Coalition it will be made a reality,” said LNP Candidate for Leichhardt Warren Entsch.
COUCH Founder Charles Woodward applauded Warren Entsch for committing to the vital piece of infrastructure for the community.
The radiology centre has been brought about thanks to strong community support and today we are elated to be announcing the final stage of the dream coming to fruition with the wellness centre thanks to the Coalition.
“Building this Wellness Centre is so important as it not only means cancer sufferers will receive a high level of treatment, but their mind and soul, key elements in the recovery process will be nurtured. Liz Plummer was the catalyst and inspiration for COUCH forming. Our dream was to build a dedicated radiology centre and a wellness centre so cancer sufferers can be treated and cared for in their home town,” said COUCH Founder Charles Woodward.
The centre would be located on Reservoir Rd, Manoora, with its plans modelled on the leafy environment at Edge Hill’s Collins Avenue.
He said the centre would have support services for counselling, mind therapies, acupuncture, and a “look- good feel-better” program.
Plans also include a $5.4 million two-storey 18-unit patient accommodation centre, with a pool and common room as well as a $5.7 million ancillary centre featuring six medical suites, a pharmacy and a coffee shop.
Warren Entsch said if elected on 21st August ensuring this project is completed will be one of his top priorities.
New Wellness Centre Announced
CAMPAIGNERS for a better deal for cancer sufferers have urged both major political parties to help fund a $22 million wellness centre in Cairns as part of their federal election pledges. Sign the petition.
Click here to sign the petition
The facility would provide respite, counselling, treatment, accommodation and help alleviate the stress of cancer sufferers currently being forced to travel to Townsville or Brisbane for treatment.
The Committee for Oncology Unit Cairns Hospital says it needs “a couple of million” to start stage one of the project.
The centre would be located on Reservoir Rd, Manoora, with its plans modelled on the leafy environment at Edge Hill’s Collins Avenue.
COUCH founder Charles Woodward, who donated the land that has been in his family for 70 years, said the wellness centre’s goal was to provide treatment for the “mental, not just the physical aspects” of cancer.
He said the centre would have support services for counselling, mind therapies, acupuncture, and a “look- good feel-better” program.
“We want to do this right,” Mr Woodward said.
“It’s not going to be a tin shed. We want it to be of world standard – a spectacular centre.”
“If we can get a decent slab out of the Federal Government, it would be a great start.”
The complex, to be built in three stages, boasts gardens and decks on 2ha of land, donated by the Woodward family.
Two massage rooms, a gym, chapel, children’s play areas, library, beauty and hair salons as well as spaces for hobbies, music and art are planned for the first stage.
Plans also include a $5.4 million two-storey 18-unit patient accommodation centre, with a pool and common room as well as a $5.7 million ancillary centre featuring six medical suites, a pharmacy and a coffee shop.
Cairns Regional Council manager of development assessment Simon Clarke said the submission was expected to go before the council in about eight weeks.
More than 1000 people are diagnosed with cancer in the Far North each year; about 400 will die.
The five most common cancers diagnosed in the region are prostate, bowel, breast, melanoma and lung.
If the centre were built, an estimated 340 Far Northerners would no longer need to travel to Townsville or Brisbane for treatment.
Leichhardt MP Jim Turnour and LNP candidate Warren Entsch have both pledged their support for the centre but neither would commit on a dollar figure.
Mr Turnour said he would push COUCH’s plan to the Labor Party while Mr Entsch said, “If I had my way, I’d give them $22 million”.
Cairns and Hinterland Health Service District CEO Julie Hartley-Jones welcomed the proposal.
“The most pleasing aspect of the proposed COUCH wellness centre is that it will not just provide accommodation,” Ms Hartley-Jones said.
The proposal will complement next year’s completion of the Liz Plummer cancer care centre, a radiotherapy oncology unit at Cairns Base Hospital to be established following a crusade by COUCH.
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Fantastic news from Queensland Government!
Blight promises city oncology unit by 2010
While Parliament was held in Cairns at the end of October, the COUCH executive consisting of Charles and Pip Woodward, Bob McGill and Max and Liz Plummer met with the Premier Anna Bligh and the Health Minister Stephen Robertson to discuss the redevelopment of the Cairns Hospital.
Firstly, COUCH has pushed for the relocation of the present chemotherapy facilities to be expedited so that the extra 5 chemotherapy chairs which were committed by the Rudd Government could be installed. Hopefully this will be brought forward by two months to mid June. We also discussed the location of radiotherapy in the new redevelopment and methods of this being fast tracked. We have also been to meetings with Queensland Health about the best possible location and integration of all Cancer Care facilities.
Yours sincerely
Charles Woodward
Chairman
Phone:- (07) 4041 9474 | Fax:- (07) 4041 9499 |
Email info@couch.org.au