St John of God unveils new $17m cancer centre

St John of God Health Care is partnering with GenesisCare and national medical property development group Heathley to deliver a $17 million comprehensive cancer centre at Murdoch.

The facility, which will be located at the existing St John of God Murdoch hospital, will allow for a greater range of treatment options for cancer patients in Perth’s southern suburbs.

New treatments will include cutting-edge theranostics, a targeted radiation treatment, and nuclear medicine services initially focused on patients with late stage prostate cancer or neuroendocrine tumours.

Both public and private patients will be able to access the services, with treatment costs largely covered by Medicare rebates.

Early works are expected to begin in coming weeks, with the facility to open midway through 2021.

St John of God has appointed Project Directors Australia to manage the centre’s construction, with design work provided by Peter Hunt Architects.

St John of God Murdoch Hospital medical oncologist Kynan Feeney said the new centre would have the capacity to treat up to 1,000 cancer patients annually.

“Along with the oncology services already provided in our Cancer Centre, access to radiation therapy and theranostics services will create integrated care in the one location,” he said.

“For those who are too unwell to travel, including the many patients who receive palliative care at the St John of God Murdoch Community Hospice, it will mean being able to benefit from services easily accessible on site at Murdoch.”

As Australia’s third-largest private hospital group, St John of God operates 24 facilities across the country, including nine hospitals or surgical centres in Western Australia.

The new cancer centre at Murdoch follows a $234 million redevelopment that was completed in late 2014. 

Heathley has been previously involved with two medical or aged-care projects in WA, including the 49-bed Touhy Nursing Home in Midland, which it acquired in March last year, while one of its investment funds acquired a day hospital at 18 Prowse Street in West Perth in October 2017.

National funds management group Centuria acquired a controlling stake in Heathley in May for $24.4 million.

Across Australia, Heathley manages more than $620 million in unlisted funds focused on the healthcare sector, with its portfolio of assets comprising day hospitals, medical centres, aged care facilities and nursing homes.