Innovation leads WACHS Cancer Strategy to excellence
(L-R: Some of the Cancer Services members – Director Haematology Dr Tony Calogero, Metro-Rural Cancer Nurse Coordinator Peggy Briggs, Cancer Nurse Practitioner Christine Henneker, Senior Cancer Pharmacist Samantha Callier, Program Manager Cancer Services Jess McNeill)
WA Country Health Service’s (WACHS) Cancer Strategy 2017-22 has been named a finalist in the 2023 WA Health Excellence Awards.
Nominated for Excellence in Rural and Remote Health Care, the Strategy – driven by the Cancer Services Team – is a clear roadmap for providing country patients with improved access to specialist cancer care closer to home.
The Strategy, underpinned by our commitment to innovation, has led to the development of TeleChemotherapy services.
TeleChemotherapy is a model of care that enables cancer patients to receive low-risk chemotherapy locally with the support of specialist clinicians via telehealth. It’s led by teams in the Pilbara, Kimberley, Wheatbelt and Central Office and provides culturally safe care close to home.
The service has facilitated almost 25,000 outpatient appointments and supported almost 3,000 chemotherapy inpatient treatments across all three regional sites, reducing the need for almost 250 country patients to be away from home during their treatment.
As part of the Strategy, we have also collaborated with Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH) to launch TeleLymphodema services.
In March this year, the dedicated Radiation Oncology facility at Albany Health Campus was opened to deliver specialised cancer treatment close to home – saving patients more than one million kilometres in travel, a commitment the Strategy made for improving care for country patients.
The new facility treats prostate, breast, lung and colorectal cancers, and offers palliative treatments for symptom control. It also features a state-of-the-art linear accelerator, designed to focus high-energy particles that target cancer cells and minimise the impact on surrounding tissue.
The plan has also driven the opening of dedicated accommodation facilities for cancer patients – from the Midwest’s Protea Lodge Hostel to the Wheatbelt’s Narrogin Gnarojin Bell Accommodation and Northam Cancer Accommodation. These facilities allow patients to access cancer services closer to home, supporting the health and wellbeing of our rural communities.
WA Country Health Service’s Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery Yvonne Bagwell said she is exceptionally proud of the Cancer Services Team for all they do to improve cancer services in the bush.
“These are real, potentially lifesaving developments our team have – and continue - to implement,” Ms Bagwell said.
“They are absolutely committed to improving outcomes for patients in country WA and they’re proving time and again, distance doesn’t have to be a barrier to world-class cancer care.
“Congratulations to the team for their achievements, and I wish them all the best for the awards,” she added.
The WA Health Excellence Award winners will be announced at a gala ball on 7 December 2023.