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Media statement
Date: As at 1.25pm Friday 5 March 2010
Providing affordable, comfortable and supported Lodge accommodation for people from regional SA undergoing cancer treatment in Adelaide is Cancer Council’s prime concern. In response to media coverage today about patient access to Flinders Lodge, Cancer Council SA wishes to clarify the facts and reassure patients that their accommodation needs will continue to be met. Cancer Council SA has 3 Lodges, namely Flinders, Greenhill and Seaview. During 2009 Cancer Council SA provided affordable Lodge accommodation for more than 5,000 country people with cancer undergoing treatment in Adelaide, and their carers – this equates to 35,400 bed-nights provided for people requiring accommodation. Additionally, we made more than 4,600 bus trips to transport country people between their city-based Lodge accommodation and cancer treatment centres. One of our three motels - Flinders Lodge - is situated on the Clipsal 500 track. During the four-day race this poses some difficultly for our bus to enter and exit the motel. People staying at Flinders Lodge during this period have also advised us that the noise associated with the race has made it difficult for them to rest during the day. Adequate rest is important for people having cancer treatment. As a consequence CCSA, in the best interests of people with cancer staying our Lodges, has, since taking over the lodge in 2006: (1) offered people staying at Flinders Lodge the opportunity to move to Greenhill Lodge (2) scheduled all new bookings for this 4 day period to fill vacancies at Greenhill and Seaview Lodges first We endeavour to minimise any disruption to our guests – which is limited to two days a year, as fewer scheduled cancer treatments occur on weekends. At any time, on average 81 per cent of the guests at Flinders Lodge have cancer or other medical illness. Flinders Lodge is therefore able to let some rooms to commercial clients. At present Greenhill and Seaview Lodges are 99 per cent occupied with people currently receiving medical treatment. Greenhill and Seaview Lodges will not be taking any commercial clients as a result of the Clipsal 500. Bookings for regional South Australians with cancer and their families have priority over commercial clients and where possible we will strive to accommodate clients in cases of emergency. Clipsal 500 is a great event for SA and the minimal inconvenience caused during this four-day event is planned and managed well by Cancer Council SA to ensure our regional guests having cancer treatment in Adelaide have a comfortable stay. For further enquiries please call Cancer Council Helpline 13 11 20 Professor Brenda Wilson, Chief Executive End of statement  Top |
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