Legislative Council, Tuesday 8 April 2025

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

With regard to cancer services at the North West Regional Hospital:

1. How many specialist medical staff positions are currently filled in the areas of:
a. Cancer Haematology,
b. Cancer Medical Oncology, and
c. Cancer Radiation Oncology?

2. How many specialist medical staff positions are currently vacant in:
a. Cancer Haematology,
b. Cancer Medical Oncology,
c. Cancer Radiation Oncology?

3. What processes have been undertaken to date by the department to fill a vacant position?

4. What actions are being taken by the Director of Northern Cancer Service, based in Launceston, to fill vacant positions?

5. What are the current waiting times for patients to see specialists in:
a. Cancer Haematology,
b. Cancer Medical Oncology, and
c. Cancer Radiation Oncology?

ANSWER

1. The FTE of filled medical staff positions across the Northern Cancer Service are:

a. Cancer Haematology, 4.4 FTEs

b. Cancer Medical Oncology, 6.8 FTEs

c. Cancer Radiation Oncology, 3.27 FTEs

2. The FTE of vacant medical staff positions across the Northern Cancer Service are:

(a) Cancer Haematology,1 FTE currently covered by a locum.

(b) Cancer Medical Oncology, zero FTEs.

(c) Cancer Radiation Oncology, 1.8 FTE currently seeking locum coverage.

(3) Ongoing recruitment campaigns supported by medical recruitment are in place to fill all vacant medical positions. Locum coverage is also being sought while recruitment is in progress.

(4) Ongoing recruitment campaigns supported by medical recruitment are in place to fill the vacant medical positions. Locum coverage is also being sought while recruitment is in progress.

(5) Wait times for treatment across the Northern Cancer Service are:

(a) Cancer Haematology: The current wait time for treatment is less than seven days.

(b) Cancer Medical Oncology: The current wait time for treatment is less than seven days.

(c) Cancer Radiation Oncology: The average wait time in March 2025 was 19 days. This average is within the acceptable waiting time of 28 days as set out in the Radiation Oncology Practice Standards, which was developed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, Faculty of Radiation Oncology, the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy and the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine and the standards are publicly available and can be found at www.ranzcr.com.

Ms FORREST - Just a supplementary on that.

Mr PRESIDENT - The honourable member.
Supplementary Question

Ms FORREST - In the Leader's response - she may need to take this on notice - the beginning of the question was: with regard to cancer services at the North West Regional Hospital. Every answer that the Leader provided referred to the Northern Cancer Service, which includes the LGH. So, if those figures are not correct with regard to the North West Regional Hospital, I resubmit the question and ask it to be - but if it is correct, she can come back and tell me, but if it is not, it is not an accurate answer.

Mrs Hiscutt - Yes. Good point. I will resubmit your question.

Ms FORREST - Thank you.