And, as the Newcastle Herald reports today, some patients are waiting between four and nine weeks to begin urgent chemotherapy at the Calvary Mater Hospital, the Hunter's major cancer treatment provider for public patients.

Among the accounts of long wait times, today comes the stories of Hunter residents and cancer patients Joanne Parkinson and Catherine Ernst.

Ms Parkinson was told she had stage four bowel cancer and had about 12 months to live - but maybe as much as twice that long with chemotherapy.

The Macquarie Hills mother had to wait almost two months from the time of her diagnosis until chemo began.

It is hard to fathom what that wait must have been like for Ms Parkinson and her loved ones.

Likewise for Mrs Ernst and her family. She was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer in August but is facing a four-week wait for critical treatment.

"It's really hard to wait. I just want to start. I want to get it done," Mrs Ernst said.

Many of the region's private hospitals offer cancer services, but not everyone can afford private health cover - especially if they have not bought into a fund until they have become ill.

The dedicated staff at the Mater do a mighty job, day in and day out.

Clearly this is a question of resources.

The hospital gave chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy to 1800 people in the past year, treating about 53 patients a day.

But as of October 21, there were 71 patients who had been reviewed by an oncologist and were waiting for treatment to begin. For many of those 71 people and their loved ones, time is everything.

The Mater is run by Calvary, but it is a public hospital and part of the Hunter New England Health network.

In the context of the NSW government's $780 million plan to expand John Hunter Hospital, the backlog at the Mater is interesting.

It shows the government has money to spend on health in this region.

In August, Hunter New England Health CEO Michael DiRienzo told the Herald the John Hunter expansion was necessary because of growing demand.

He referred to the need for more intensive care beds and operating theatres, in particular.

A full and detailed list of services has not yet been announced, but there has not been anything to suggest the expansion will ease the Mater's chemotherapy backlog.

So the question is: what can be done about it?

Whether it is a matter of expanded services at the Mater or a new facility to address the shortfall, it is a discussion worth having sooner rather than later - for the sake of those for whom time is so important.

ISSUE: 39,442.

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