1 May 2002 Speech Notes
Opening Of Radiation Therapy Department, Wellington School Of Medicine
Good morning and welcome to the official opening of the Radiation Therapy Department of the Wellington School of
Medicine.
Congratulations to everyone who has had a role in establishing the course here, and congratulations also to the
first group of graduates from this course who are about to receive their degrees.
I also want to use this opportunity to acknowledge the recent work of the Radiation Therapy Advisory Group and
the New Zealand Cancer Treatment Working Party. I understand the Advisory Group played an especially valuable role in
ensuring the move of training from the Central Institute of Technology was done with minimal disruption and without
affecting the integrity of the course.
The new location and increased profile of the course is bearing results. I understand there has been a very
encouraging response and in the first year the stage one programme has been fully subscribed.
I am also informed there are 38 trainees in stage one of this year’s programme – that’s good news for this
school and good news for the wider sector.
Improving the delivery of radiation therapy services is a touchstone issue in health, and is especially
important for public trust in the system. People – not unreasonably – expect help from the system when they need it
most.
MRTs play a really important role in helping the public needing treatment, at what can be a very difficult time
for people and their families.
While in some circumstances small delays may not be clinically significant, it is imperative we do every thing we can to
reduce waiting times using available resources, and ensure people clearly understand when they will receive treatment.
Increasing the supply of MRT workers is an important part of this equation. Ensuring those people who start training
also complete training is another step, as is encouraging New Zealand-trained people to choose to remain and work in New
Zealand.
The system of linking students in the second and third years of training, with cancer centres is making an important
contribution in this regard.
There are no easy or immediate solutions. However, it is clear that a robust, well-organised and high profile university
course, like the programme offered at this school, is a significant contribution.
I also think that it is pertinent to remind ourselves about why people are choosing to train as MRT workers, as the high
profile of the specialty in recent months is only part of the answer. Older values such as the wish to combine a
vocation and a career, and to help people, remain important.
e should also keep in mind the advances in radiation therapy and the options we have that weren’t available to previous
generations.
Again, congratulations and best wishes for the continuing success of the programme. You have already achieved a lot in a
short time and I am sure you will over come many more hurdles in the future.
Your work has a wide importance to the community and I applaud you in your efforts. I am sure there will be many
more skilled and proud graduates from this programme over the years.
Ends