Due to the shortage of staff in the ACT public health system, at least 24 cancer patients have been compelled to travel to Sydney for radiotherapy. Six radiotherapists had resigned in January, leaving the unit short-staffed. Breakdowns have also been endured by the radiotherapy machines, or linear accelerators of the hospitals.

“Staff have tried to work overtime to ameliorate some of that pressure but at the end of the day for workplace safety we need to make sure people are working reasonable hours”, said Katy Gallagher, ACT Health Minister.

Last year, public servant Vesna Nedic was diagnosed with breast cancer and she was informed that she had to travel to Sydney for six weeks of radiotherapy. But she finished chemotherapy within a mere three weeks. The doctors treated her but she condemned the Government for the shortage of the staff at the radiation oncology unit.

"The minister really needs to actually get a grip of what is going on. Quite clearly something is going wrong in terms of communication within the department. There is a breakdown between the minister's office and the department and obviously within the department", said Jeremy Hanson, Opposition Health spokesman.