Download Ministry of Health National Cancer Programme Update April 2013

April 2013
Welcome to the first edition of our National Cancer Programme update. We will send you a new
update every two months, to keep you informed about key areas of our work programme. Please
forward this update to colleagues who may find it useful. If you don’t want to receive these
updates, please reply to this email with “unsubscribe” in the subject line.
Faster Cancer Treatment programme
    Feedback invited on draft tumour standards
The Ministry is keen to receive your feedback on draft tumour standards covering bowel, breast,
gynaecological, haematological, head and neck, upper gastrointestinal, melanoma and sarcoma
tumours. Electronic submissions can be made until 22 May 2013, using the feedback form on the
Ministry website. You can download the eight draft tumour standards and the feedback form
here.
    Cancer nurse coordinators
District health boards have made significant progress recruiting specialist nurses for the new
cancer nurse coordinator roles. Twenty-six specialist nurses are now working in 13 DHBs, with
other DHBs actively recruiting and further appointments pending. Natalie James, who is based at
Auckland DHB and the Northern Cancer Network, is underway in her role as the National Nurse
Lead. She will work with the regional cancer networks and DHBs to provide professional
leadership and support to cancer nurse coordinators across the country. Over time, she will
identify successful initiatives that could work nationally and take a lead role in developing tools
that facilitate care coordination. Natalie will be contacting the Directors of Nursing and other DHB
staff to hear more about how the cancer nurse coordinators will be working in each region and
about what is expected from the role.
Contact: [email protected]
    Evaluation of the cancer nurse coordinator initiative
Litmus has been commissioned by the Ministry to evaluate the implementation of the cancer
nurse coordinator initiative. The evaluation will run until December 2015. It will evaluate the
initiative against two overarching aims: improving the experience for patients with cancer or
suspected cancer, including their family/whanau, and improving overall access and timeliness of
access to diagnostic and treatment services for patients with cancer. Litmus is working with the
Ministry and an evaluation advisory group to finalise the evaluation framework, which will include
an outcomes model and possible indicators. Litmus will be in touch with DHBs soon to share the
framework and indicators, and to discuss data requirements and ensure good processes for data
collection. As well, Litmus will work with DHBs to agree the design of a patient and
family/whanau experience survey and a consistent and effective process for delivering it through
existing DHB survey mechanisms.
Contact: Liz Smith [email protected] or Ingrid McDuff [email protected]
Medical Oncology Models of Care project
    Implementation
Work is underway to strengthen chemotherapy services and ensure they can meet future
increases in demand. This follows a report to the Ministry in 2011 which proposed changes to
how and where chemotherapy services should be available. It advocated a four level hub and
spoke model, with key sites and satellite sites. The Medical Oncology National Implementation
Plan 2012/13 was then developed, which identified priority areas for implementation by DHBs.
The work has three parts: defining what services should be delivered by different DHBs, ensuring
an adequate workforce and improving service quality. To provide a picture of current services, a
service assessment survey was distributed to DHBs in December 2012. Responses from 20
DHBs for 31 facilities showed that six centres currently operate as hubs and coordinate services
in a large number of satellite centres. This configuration allows access to a wide range of services
close to home for many patients. As part of the workforce programme, Julie Cairns has been
appointed National Oncology Nurse Clinical Lead to develop a knowledge and skills framework
for oncology nursing. Julie will hold consultation workshops around the country beginning on 16
May 2013.
Contact: Julie Cairns [email protected], [email protected]
Radiation Oncology
    Development of a national plan
The Ministry has contracted Health Partners Consulting Group Ltd to develop a national radiation
oncology plan. The plan will inform national level decision-making and provide guidance for
further regional planning for radiation oncology services over the next 10 years. It is expected to
be finalised by the end of 2013.
Contact: [email protected]
National Child Cancer Network
    Guidelines agreed for service level agreements
After extensive consultation, guidelines have been finalised for the development of Service Level
Agreements between the two child cancer centres (Auckland and Christchurch) and the 14
shared care centres. The Child Cancer Network will visit all shared care centres over the next
two years to help them prepare content for the agreements. The agreements specify how the
centres will work together in order to provide consistent quality and access of care to children with
cancer across the country.
Contact: Dr Scott Macfarlane, National Clinical Lead [email protected]
Melissa Wilson, National Executive Officer [email protected]
    Members’ portal
A members’ portal was added to the National Child Cancer Network website in February and has
proved successful in enabling networking and collaboration across the wider child cancer
network. Joining the network gives you access to discussion forums, working groups,
publications, training, and professional development and networking opportunities. Go to
www.childcancernetwork.org.nz
Bowel Cancer programme
    Bowel Screening Pilot
Information collected in the first nine months of the Bowel Screening Pilot shows a positive start
to the four year programme, which is being hosted by Waitemata DHB. Fifty-four percent of
people invited to take part have returned a completed bowel screening test kit. Read the latest
results here.
    National Bowel Cancer Working Group
Last year, the National Bowel Cancer Working Group achieved its initial set of priorities aimed at
improving national consistency in treating bowel cancer, including developing national referral
criteria for colonoscopy. A current focus of the group is reducing inequalities along the cancer
pathway. It is exploring the potential role of multidisciplinary meetings and colorectal cancer
nurse specialists in identifying patients at high risk of receiving inequitable treatment. Equity key
messages and resources are being developed for the sector and will be available on the Ministry
website in June. You can find the National Referral Criteria for Direct Access Colonoscopy and
further information about the National Bowel Cancer Working Group here.
    National Endoscopy Quality Improvement Programme
The National Endoscopy Quality Improvement Programme (NEQIP) is being rolled out nationally
over two years to optimise clinical and unit performance and enhance training and assessment.
The programme includes roll-out of a New Zealand version of the UK developed Global Rating
Scale (GRS), a quality improvement tool trialled in four DHBs last year. All DHBs will receive
GRS training and guidance by August 2013, including training in the collection of robust
productivity and capacity and demand data. This data allows services to develop a more in-depth
understanding of their current issues so they can make service improvements. The result will be
improved efficiency, maximised use of capacity and improved waiting list management and times.
The programme is hosted by Bay of Plenty DHB.
Contact: Dr David Theobald, Clinical Director [email protected]
Jenni Masters, Sector Implementation Director [email protected]
Nicola Wilson, Programme Manager [email protected]
Palliative care
    Palliative care forums
A series of forums have been held around the country to update the palliative care sector on the
joint palliative care programmes of the Ministry, the Palliative Care Council and Hospice New
Zealand. Palliative care publications of interest to the sector include:
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Resource and Capability Framework for Adult Palliative Care Services
Gap Analysis of Specialist Palliative Care in New Zealand
National Health Needs Assessment For Palliative Care
Advance Care Planning: A guide for the New Zealand health care workforce
New Zealand Palliative Care Glossary
Hospice New Zealand Standards for Palliative Care
Palliative Care National Joint Work Programme 2012
Guidance for Integrated Paediatric Palliative Care Services in New Zealand
The Palliative Care Handbook
New Zealand Palliative Care Strategy