An elderly cancer sufferer in South Australia says she’s devastated about the closure of the Western Hospital’s oncology unit, which will force her to find somewhere else to go for treatment.
Today it was revealed Margaret Rankine is one of about 200 patients in limbo.
She has been travelling to the Western Hospital for chemotherapy treatment for the past seven years.
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“They become part of the family; the nurses are absolutely fantastic,” she said.
“They’ve saved my life.”
The news of the unit’s closure emerged last Friday after a potential buyer fell through.
It’s understood patients will still be able to access consultations at the site but won’t be able to get chemotherapy.
The administrators say Western Hospital is reaching out to patients individually to make the transition to a new provider.
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It’s expected everyone affected will be contacted by the end of Thursday.
“If I go somewhere like (Lyell McEwin Hospital) … I’d have to get another oncologist which I’m not that keen on,” Rankine said.
“I’ll just have to do with what goes.”
A buyer for the remainder of the hospital is set to be announced by the end of the week.
This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.
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