Western Australia will get its own truly comprehensive cancer centre, similar to those in other States and internationally, with the WA State Government 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.
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 difference between a truly comprehensive cancer centre, like the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Victoria, and existing cancer services in WA, stems from deep integration of world-leading medical research and clinical trials into the treatment and care provided to patients. Research shows that strong collaboration between scientists and clinicians leads to significantly better patient outcomes and a more coordinated, less fragmented cancer journey.
“Unfortunately, in WA, one in three people will die from cancer and more than 14,000 cases will be diagnosed each year. Although there have been research-driven cancer breakthroughs in the past 20 years, many people still struggle through treatments for some of the most challenging cancers, for which there is currently no cure and where resistance to treatment is common. It is on these types of cancers that the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre will initially focus.
“As a doctor and cancer researcher for the past 30 years I am truly excited for what this means for the care of our cancer patients in WA. By focusing on cutting-edge research into specific streams of cancer and sharing research and expertise into WA’s existing hospitals and clinics, Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre will play a key role in delivering comprehensive cancer care across WA to the public for the next 50 years and beyond, complementing and value adding to existing hospitals and clinics throughout the metropolitan area and regional WA.”
The Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre will initially focus its work in 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, Ben Morton, said helping people with cancer live better and longer was at the core of the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
“As a not-for-profit, leading medical research organisation, the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research has one objective with the development and delivery of the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre, and that is driving world-leading, research driven cancer care for people at one of the most vulnerable times in their lives. This centre will help deliver better research outcomes targeted at finding cures and better treatments – while at the same time improving the care of people fighting cancer.
“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.
“Like thousands of other Western Australians my family has been impacted by a loved one suffering through cancer. I dedicate my service on this project, and the Perkins, to my mother, Linda. One thing about the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre is that it is a facility dedicated to everyone who has been touched by the scourge of cancer. Once the project is underway, people will have the opportunity to make a donation, big or small, in memory of their loved ones who have battled cancer.”
The Perkins will continue to work with the State Government to finalise the exact location at the QEII site through the QEII Master planning process. Once that process is complete, it is expected construction could start within approximately 18 months, with the centre aiming to be operational by end of 2030.
This bold addition to Western Australia’s health infrastructure will see WA join a national network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres, where the latest discoveries in bench side research can be more effectively trialled locally and translated into bedside treatments, setting Australia apart in developing new personalised treatment options for cancer patients.
Image: Premier Roger Cook announced the WA Government commitment for the Perkins WA Comprehensive Cancer Centre at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. (L-R: Perkins CEO Prof Peter Leedman AO, WA Premier Roger Cook, WA Treasurer Rita Saffiotti, cancer survivor Michaela Huston)
