Oncology clinic to commence in Moree

16 March 2010

Hunter New England Health is pleased to announce that an oncology clinic will commence at Moree District Hospital this week. 

The outreach clinic will open on Wednesday 17 March and operate monthly with the capacity for 13 local patients.

Oncologist Dr Mathew George will see patients at Moree District Hospital on the third Wednesday of every month.  

Dr George was appointed as the full-time medical oncologist at Tamworth Hospital Oncology Unit in November last year. Dr George is passionate about offering oncology clinics in rural areas and along with Moree, operates an outreach service at Muswellbrook. 

Clinical Nurse Manager at Moree District Health Service, Bronwyn Cosh said the new clinic means that patients will now be able to receive chemotherapy and have their ongoing doctor’s appointments without travelling too far from home.

“Dr George’s visits to Moree ensure continuity of care, which is very important for people during their cancer journey,” Ms Cosh said

“Dr George brings with him a wealth of experience and an understanding of the needs and challenges faced by rural cancer patients, so he is a much-welcomed addition to our team.”

The presence of an oncology clinic at Moree Hospital will see an increase in chemotherapy delivery, with an extra nurse being trained to support those staff already delivering chemotherapy services.

Administration staff also received training to support the new oncology clinic and chemotherapy services at a local level.

Dr George will assess patients’ clinical needs and condition to determine if they are suitable to receive chemotherapy at Moree. The outreach chemotherapy services will be available every Tuesday and Thursday at Moree Hospital.

The new oncology clinic has already received great community support with the Moree Breast Cancer Support Group donating $11,000 to buy equipment for the service.

Contact: Janelle Kelly

Phone: 49392602