THE association behind the panel that appointed 14 specialist prostate care nurses has maintained it was a fair and transparent selection process.
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The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA) received $6.2 million to fund 14 positions across Australia, which saw the Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) denied the position for the second consecutive year.
Claims the process was politically-biased and lacked transparency have been strongly refuted by the PCFA.
Chief executive Associate Professor Anothony Lowe said an independent panel received 35 applications, but only enough funding for just 14 positions.
"An important point to make is, unfortunately we could only fund a third of the applications," Mr Lowe said.
"We absolutely refute that (suggestions appointments were political) in the sense no politicians were involved in the selection process.
"The selection process had nothing to do with who the local MP is.
"Unfortunately, it's all very easy to say that."
Mr Lowe said a PCFA director of nursing sat on the panel alongside other external figures, but no member of the PCFA board was involved at all.
"We were very conscious to avoid involving the board for reasons being suggested," he said.
Mr Lowe added they aimed to have at least one nurse in each state and territory, across both public and private hospitals, adding the association was sensitive to the special needs of regional and remote areas given they had a 20 per cent higher incidence rate of prostate cancer than metropolitan areas.
Mr Lowe couldn't elaborate on why the MLHD missed out for the second consecutive year.
"It would be wrong of me to go through it blow-by-blow," he said.
"It's no poor reflection on the Riverina, their need or their application.
"It's just not enough funding to go around."
Mr Lowe said it was a balancing act and that the panel took a multidisciplinary approach in the decision-making process.
He estimated 120 nurses were needed to satisfy the demand, based on the number of Jane McGrath breast cancer nurses.
"It's a finely balanced system," he said.
"We know there's a need there but there's a strong need elsewhere too."
The program now has 26 nurses, which is under a quarter of those needed.
Cancer Council community programs coordinator Matthew McKenzie said records showed that Wagga had a 28 per cent higher risk of prostate cancer than the state average.
"Cancer Council noted that only two areas in (regional) NSW were allocated nurses this time - Port Macquarie and Orange and as this was federal funding we're not sure how the decisions of where the funding went was decided," Mr McKenzie said.
"Ideally every man diagnosed with prostate cancer should get access to a prostate nurse specialist or access to the care they need when going through treatment, independent of where he lives.
"We need only look at the breast care model to understand the importance of a cancer nurse.
"Almost all women diagnosed with breast cancer are given access to a McGrath Foundation Nurse and the chances of survival have risen dramatically over recent years."
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