Legislative Council, Tuesday 27 May 2025

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

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.
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 process has been undertaken to date by the Department to fill any vacant positions.

4. What actions have been taken by the Director of the Northern cancer service based in Launceston to fill the vacant positions; and

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

ANSWER:

The Northern Cancer Service provides care and treatment across the North and North West and its staff work across Tasmanian Health Service facilities as required.

Regarding Cancer Services at the North West Regional Hospital:
• There are no haematology medical staff positions currently based onsite but outreach services are provided by the Northern Cancer Service site in Launceston to the North West Regional Hospital.
• There are 1.4 full time equivalent (FTE) positions filled onsite within medical oncology, with no vacancies, and additional outreach services provided from Launceston.
• There is 1 FTE radiation oncology position filled with a further 1 FTE vacant. Locum coverage is being sought and radiation oncologists in Launceston are providing support to the patients in the North West.

Ongoing recruitment campaigns supported by medical recruitment are in place to fill the vacant position in radiation oncology. Locum coverage is also being sought whilst recruitment is in progress.

Regarding wait times for treatment at the North West Cancer Centre:
• The current waiting time for treatment for Haematology and Medical Oncology is less than seven days.
• The average waiting time for Radiation Oncology in March 2025 was 27 days. This average is within the maximum acceptable waiting time of 28 days as set out in the Radiation Oncology Practice Standards 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. The Standards are publicly available and can be found at www.ranzcr.com.