While residents in Perth’s fast growing northern corridor are enjoying a new train line extension, some cancer patients are spending hours travelling on public transport to access treatment in Perth or spending thousands of dollars on taxis or rideshares. Good Samaritans in Yanchep and Two Rocks are stepping up and providing a free shuttle service, but say they are struggling to keep up with demand.
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00:00Yanship woman Pauline Wimsett is battling an aggressive form of breast cancer.
00:08Getting to and from Perth for treatment is now easier, but it wasn't always this simple.
00:16We drive to Butler Station, take the train to the Esplanade and then get a bus from there
00:23to near Hollywood, but then it would be a good 10-15 minute walk.
00:28The pair would travel more than two hours on public transport or fork out over $200
00:34for taxis until they heard about a generous service.
00:37They take us door to door, they don't care if we have a five hour delay for transfusion,
00:42they don't mind.
00:43Turok's Yanship Assisted Cancer Travels was established in 2013 in response to the growing
00:49number of patients needing help getting to Perth.
00:55Demand has surged.
00:57The busiest week we had 18 vehicles going out in the five days.
01:03The nearest hospital is Joondalup Health Campus, almost 40km away, which doesn't provide all
01:09cancer treatment options.
01:12If we could get a dialysis unit put in a local hospital, it just takes the stress off of
01:18them.
01:19A new one-stop ECU health centre in Yanship is aiming to meet the complex health needs
01:25of those in the community, providing a range of affordable services.
01:29But residents are worried it still won't go far enough for this fast-growing area.
01:34I think that it's just a matter of time before a hospital becomes something that is part
01:40of the landscape.
01:41The government says it's monitoring demand for more healthcare services, while ECU is
01:46open to exploring cancer treatment options at its new centre.
01:51For now, patients continue to enjoy the shuttle service.
01:55It takes away all the worry about parking and getting there.
01:59Some solace for those already fighting a big battle.