 | Wednesday, 23 June, 2010
FURTHER DETAILS OF SOUTH WEST CANCER REVIEW ANNOUNCED
Details of a review of cancer services in South West Victoria were released by Health Minister Daniel Andrews today.
The review will be carried out by Victoria’s Chief Cancer Advisor Professor Robert Thomas, who will establish an advisory group to ensure all relevant parties are consulted.
“Professor Thomas will also head up a project team, comprising senior health planning staff from the Department of Health and two independent consultants,” Mr Andrews said.
“The Advisory Group will include senior staff from South West Healthcare, St John of God Warrnambool, Barwon Health, a South Australian health planning respresentative, regional cancer clinicians and cancer consumer representatives.
“One of the consultants will have expertise in regional cancer service planning and the other will be expert in radiation oncology and advise on the feasibility of future radiotherapy services.”
Professor Thomas said the project team will undertake a formal consultation process with all relevant stakeholders.
“These include public and private cancer service providers across the region, medical, nursing and allied health staff, primary and community health services and local community support groups and consumer groups,” Professor Thomas said.
The advisory group will also consider any written submissions received.
The review will involve:
· A review of all cancer services in South West Victoria, including scoping of existing services and facilities in both the public and private sector;
· The development of an agreed South West regional cancer service plan to address current and future requirements;
· A feasibility study into the potential for providing radiotherapy services; and
· A report and recommendations to stakeholders and to the Minister for Health.
Once constituted, the first meeting of the advisory group will be held next month.
A project report, including recommendations for implementation will be developed following the consultation process.
In May 2010 the Minister for Health, the Hon Daniel Andrews MP, announced the appointment of Professor Robert Thomas, Victoria’s Chief Cancer Advisor, to lead a review of cancer services in the South-West of Victoria.
Scope of the study
The study will involve:
· A review of all cancer services in South-West Victoria, including: scoping of existing services and facilities in both the public and private sector; current referral pathways and outflows within and outside of the region; and analysis of capacity and demand.
· The development of an agreed South-West regional cancer service plan to address current and future requirements, including the identification of opportunities to strengthen existing services and partnerships, and identification of sustainable models to support equity of access to best-practice cancer care, including supportive care.
· A feasibility study into the potential for radiotherapy service provision and associated requirements for South-West Victoria, including benchmarking for quality, complexity and through-put against national and international regional radiotherapy services.
· A report and recommendations to stakeholders and to the Minister for Health.
Oversight of the study
An Advisory Group, chaired by Professor Thomas, will be established to advise on the project and to ensure all relevant groups are consulted as part of this. The Advisory Group will include: senior staff from South-West Healthcare, St John of God Warrnambool and Barwon Health (including the Andrew Love Cancer Centre); a health planning representative from South Australia; regional cancer clinicians and cancer consumer representatives.
Professor Thomas will also head up the Project Team for the study, comprising senior health planning staff from the Department of Health. Two separate consultants will be appointed to work with the Project Team: one with expertise in regional cancer service planning to support the development of the Cancer Service Plan; and an independent expert in radiation oncology to advise on the feasibility of future radiotherapy services.
How will the study be conducted?
The Project Team and consultants will undertake a formal consultation process with all relevant stakeholders, including: public and private cancer service providers across the region; medical, nursing and allied health staff; primary and community health services; and local community support groups and consumer groups. The Advisory Committee will also consider any written submissions received.
The first meeting of the Advisory Group will be held in July 2010. A project report, including recommendations for implementation, will be produced following the consultation process.
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