New cancer centre to offer cutting-edge radiation therapy services
A state-of-the-art cancer centre is scheduled to open within Holmesglen Private Hospital in September this year, offering the latest in advanced radiation therapy — including a Varian Halcyon linear accelerator machine. The Icon Cancer Centre Holmesglen will allow cancer patients to access all aspects of their care — including surgery, radiation therapy, and infusion and oncology services — in one location.
Conveniently located within Holmesglen Private Hospital, the centre will also provide access to allied health, support services and pharmacy.
Icon Group CEO Mark Middleton said the opening of Icon Cancer Centre Holmesglen will help the expanding metropolitan Melbourne community to conveniently access the latest in radiation therapy treatment.
“With Melbourne’s population set to increase to approximately 6.2 million by 2026, we are delighted to ensure that every person who receives a cancer diagnosis can access the best possible care, closer to home, through the opening of a dedicated radiation therapy centre in the heart of Melbourne’s south-eastern corridor,” Middleton said.
Icon Cancer Centre Holmesglen will have the capacity to administer more than 900 courses of radiation therapy each year, offering precise and complex treatment — including stereotactic radiation therapy for advanced cancer.
The centre marks a significant milestone in the 2016 partnership between Icon Group and Healthscope. Homesglen is the fourth Healthscope hospital in this partnership, which will include seven radiation oncology centres worth in excess of $65 million.
Healthscope CEO Steven Rubic said the collaboration will continue to expand the availability of integrated, advanced cancer care services throughout Australia.
“Throughout the last five years, Healthscope has proudly worked hand in hand with Icon Group to introduce the latest in radiation therapy treatment to complement our hospital cancer services. We had a shared vision to provide greater access to world-class cancer treatment for patients at seven of our hospitals nationally. I am delighted to see the fourth centre of this partnership under development as we continue to explore further opportunities to partner with Icon in delivering a more comprehensive standard of cancer care across our network,” Rubic said.
Holmesglen Private Hospital General Manager Keryn Hopkins said, “The opening of a dedicated radiation therapy centre represents another step forward in the delivery of patient-centred, personalised care within our hospital grounds, ensuring every patient who walks through our doors can access the care they need in one convenient location.”
Icon’s national network means that highly specialised techniques and technologies can be leveraged across its centres, including in regional and metropolitan areas. The delivery of these techniques includes national training, extensive quality assurance checks and support. With 30 centres across Australia and several under development, Icon Cancer Centre will offer eight radiation oncology facilities in Victoria with the introduction of Icon Cancer Centre Holmesglen. Patients do not require private health insurance to receive radiation therapy treatments, with up to 80–90% of costs reimbursed by Medicare.
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