Plans are under way to provide a cancer treatment service at Deniliquin hospital by the end of the year with a study being done to determine the number of chemotherapy chairs required.

The Murrumbidgee Local Health District has commissioned the Wodonga-based Hume Regional Integrated Cancer Service to produce a report which will outline how a cancer service can best be provided from Deniliquin.

Project manager Paula Fraser said the plan was good news for western Riverina residents but she stressed not all travel will be eliminated with some cancers, depending on type and tumour complexity, still likely to require treatment in Alb-ury-Wodonga.

“We don’t want everyone in Deniliquin thinking we won’t have to come to Albury-Wodonga for treatment, there will still be some treatment which needs to be done in Alb-ury-Wodonga,” she said.

“The chemotherapy service will focus on improving the journey of the patient undergoing chemo- therapy by reducing long distance travel, costs and isolation from family and support services.”

Project officer Alex McKenna said consultation with cancer patients, general practitioners, hospital managers and nurses would occur in Deniliquin next week as feedback was sought on the extent of demand and complexity of treatment that could be provided.

“Once we know what chemos we can give then that will define what services we can go ahead with in Deniliquin,” Mr McKenna said yesterday.

Murrumbidgee health district director of operations Jill Ludford said “it was an exciting project” for Deniliquin and she expects the first patients to undergo treatment by the end of the year.

The service will be overseen by Border Medical Oncology.

Nurses will be trained in Albury-Wodonga to assist with chemotherapy.