Cancer
Why is Cancer one of MidCentral DHB’s Health Priority Areas?
Cancer is a health priority because it is the second most common cause of death (27%) within MidCentral’s district (cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death). At least one third of cancers are preventable. The impact and death rate of cancer can be reduced with early treatment.
More information about MDHB's planning around cancer is availiable in the Cancer Service Plan.
Eldery women making cups of tea at home
Cancer Expected to Increase
The number of people diagnosed with cancer within MidCentral is expected to increase as the proportion of older people within the district increases.
Common cancers within the MidCentral District include cancer affecting the digestive organs like cancer of the stomach and bowel, prostate cancer, beast cancer, respiratory cancer and cancer affecting organs inside the chest and cancer affecting the blood and lymphoid systems.
MidCentral DHB’s strategies to the address the incidence and impact of cancer:
- Increasing investment in promoting healthy lifestyles
- Increasing awareness of cancer and its associated risk factors
- Increasing investment in cancer screening programmes
- Developing increases workforce expertise and capacity in cancer treatment service
- Increasing specialist cancer palliative services
- Developing comprehensive services to support people through their cancer journey
- Investment
Additional funds will be used to purchase services to reduce the incidence and impact of cancer on an ongoing basis. This will commence in the short to medium term and will have an annual investment value of $3.3million.
New Cancer Initiatives and Services Implemented in the District
District Psycho-Oncology Service
Cancer Nursing Positions
Cancer District Management Group (DMG)
Liverpool Care of the Dying Pathway (LCP)
Palliative Care Partnership
Palliative Care Pharmacist and Medical Specialist
District Psycho-Oncology Service
Psycho-oncology services from Massey University provides an exciting opportunity to introduce a new dimension to cancer treatment and support in the District through the establishment of a Psycho-Oncology service, the first of its kind in New Zealand.
This New Zealand first is a MidCentral DHB funded service for people with cancer and their families in the MidCentral District, including:
- All patients newly diagnosed or on cancer treatment within MidCentral DHB district.
- Cancer survivors in the same district
- Family/whanau and significant others related to people with cancer
Specific treatment approaches offered by a Psycho-Oncology team for those families in need of additional intervention include:
Individual psychological support
- Psycho education: seeking to normalise the patient’s experience of treatment
- Provision of counselling assistance to help the family maintain stability in the face of the uncertainties of cancer and cancer treatment
- Counselling to help families deal with communication challenges precipitated by a cancer diagnosis
The specific goals of the Psycho-Oncology Service are:
- To reduce distress and assist the patient in coping with emotional, psychological, and physical sequelae of the disease process, treatment, and survival
- To reduce stress and distress in the family and whanau of cancer patients
- To improve the perception of quality of life of patients who have a diagnosis of cancer
- To work with clients to promote active choice and participation in treatment.
MidCentral Health expects approximately 300 new patients (30% of MidCentral FSAs) per year.
Cancer Nursing Positions
Cancer patients, their families and whanau will be supported in their journey with the disease by an additional ten specialist cancer nurses. Close to $1million in annual funding was approved by MidCentral DHB to establish the new positions, the last major investment from the Cancer Service Plan.
Four community cancer care co-ordinators have been recruited. These nurses are based at the district’s four primary health organisations (Horowhenua, Otaki, Tararua and Manawatu) and will assist cancer patients navigate and transition between services, and provide advocacy and liaison support.
Six specialist nurse clinicians based at the RCTS specialising in the most pressing cancer types will be recruited shortly along with four community based nurses. It is intended that the more specialist hospital-based nurses will mentor the community nurses, who will have a broader knowledge of the patient and their situation.
Key functions of these nurses will be providing advice and support to patients and families, assisting co-ordination of care, and providing case planning and review support and education to other providers to increase capacity and knowledge.
Cancer District Management Group (DMG)
In supporting the implementation of MidCentral DHB’s cancer plan, a District Management Groups (DMG) has been established.
The DMG has a clinical advisory function providing specialist and strategic advice to the Funding Division on the development, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of service strategies related to cancer across the region. They provide:
- Sector empowerment
- Representative expertise
- Strategic advice
- Population health perspective
The DMG comprises strategic representation from the tertiary, secondary, primary provider sectors, Iwi, the community and DHB Funding Division.
Liverpool Care of the Dying Pathway (LCP)
MidCentral is the first district in New Zealand to implement the LCP. This model has its origins in the United Kingdom and arises from concerns about patients’ uncertainty and anxiety, from poorly coordinated services for people with advanced cancer, insufficient training opportunities for primary health care teams, poor nursing care, inadequate communication from health professionals and the need to optimise the care of all dying patients.
It facilitates multi-professional communication and documentation, integrating national guidelines into clinical practice. It strengthens the role of the Specialist Palliative Care Team and should reduce and inform complaints commonly associated with palliative care.
Palliative Care Partnership
A significant development in MidCentral District has been the establishment of the Palliative Care Partnership model. This model is an excellent example of both primary and secondary services working together collaboratively.
The Palliative Care Partnership model is a shared care service proposal between Arohanui Hospice, MIPA, General Practice Teams targeting patients terminally diagnosed who have less than 12 months to live. The partnership builds on the skills and expertise of both generalist & specialist services to improve palliative care in community. The objective is to enhance the quality and coordination of health care services.
Assessment and coordination of care is provided by multidisciplinary Palliative Care Teams with greater emphasis on role of general practice teams. The model empowers decision-making and control by the patient and their family/whanau and ensures wellbeing of the patient through education & self management.
Palliative Care Pharmacist and Medical Specialist
The final two strands of MidCentral District Health Board’s palliative care component of the Cancer Service Plan have been formally approved by the Board, paving the way for recruitment of New Zealand’s first palliative care pharmacist and a fulltime palliative care medical specialist.
The pharmacist would work with patients to improve their quality of life by using the best medication possible, and assist other health professionals in maintaining their knowledge of palliative care medications.
Palmerston North will now be able to train doctors in palliative medicine. Funding for both the specialist and clinical pharmacist position comes from $700,000 already approved for implementation of the Cancer service plan.
Print this Page
Last Updated 29/10/2007