Western Australia will get its own truly comprehensive cancer centre, similar to those in other States and internationally, with the WA State Government earlier this month confirming funding for the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre to be built at the QEII Medical Campus site.
The Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre will service all Western Australians as a state-of-the-art facility where world-leading research will underpin the delivery of cutting-edge clinical care in cancer. It will provide holistic cancer care and will be highly collaborative, working with the community and medical professionals throughout the state.
The Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research CEO, Professor Peter Leedman AO, said the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre would transform the way cancer research and care is delivered throughout the State.
“The backing of both the WA State and Federal Governments is recognition that West Australians should not miss out on world-leading cancer treatment and care integrated with world-first discovery cancer research and clinical trials that are currently available in the eastern states but not yet widely available here in WA,” Professor Leedman said.
“Around the world, comprehensive cancer centres that truly integrate cutting-edge research with patient care are life-changing for so many people. The fact that the State and Federal Governments have backed the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre is wonderful news for the Western Australian community.”
The Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre will initially focus its work on several cancer streams with strong existing research foundations - each to truly integrate basic and translational research with clinical care, together with a core principle of equity of access. Once constructed, the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre will include:
- Inpatient services including 90 multi-day beds (plus expansion for a further 30 beds), 40 same-day beds and chairs, including chemotherapy and haematology, 6-8 intensive care/high dependency beds
- Outpatient services including 36 ambulatory care/specialist clinics, space for two radiation oncology bunkers, 4 operating theatres (plus space for 2 further theatres), 2 procedure rooms, and 7 imaging services (including CT, MRI and PET)
- Research and education services, including expanded clinical trial beds (in addition to the existing 6 beds and 18 chairs in Linear Clinical Research at QEII Medical Centre), a variety of wet laboratory and dry research spaces, function-specific embedded research units and a cancer tissue biobank
- Cancer Care Coordination Centre (CCCC) providing care coordination, patient navigation and patient information services – including virtual health services providing support for regional, remote and Aboriginal patients living with cancer, and working with WA Country Health Service (WACHS) Command Centre
- Other patient support services, including urgent review and rapid access service, family amenities co-located with multiday beds, supporting transitional palliative care, supportive wellness and survivorship services for ongoing care and support, research training, including for commercialisation, underpinned by strong multi-disciplinary leadership and a culture of research.
Perkins Chair, Hon Ben Morton, said helping people with cancer live better and longer was at the core of the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
“We take our responsibility for developing the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre very seriously and are honoured to be entrusted by both the WA State and Federal Governments to deliver this transformational project.”
Mr Morton said the organisation was preparing itself for the public part of the process, as it awaited an outcome from a business case put to the state government.
“We would probably like to talk to the federal government about an increase in their commitment, but the Perkins has always planned for a philanthropic component to this project, “he said.
“We know that the WA community wants to get behind this significant project, and they will have the opportunity to do so once the project is underway. We think that spirit and generosity can be shared at every level of our community, from those who want to make a small contribution to this project to those who can make a large one.”
The Perkins is continuing to work with the State Government to finalise the Centre’s exact location at the QEII site through the QEII Master Plan. Once that is complete, it is expected that construction could start within approximately 18 months, with the Centre aiming to be operational by the end of 2030.
More information on the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre project is available at perkins.org.au/cancer-centre/
