PEOPLE in the Gannawarra Shire who have a personal experience of cancer, including as a carer, are invited to have their say on how cancer care can be improved at an upcoming workshop.
The workshop will explore how GPs, nurses, oncologists and other health professionals can work together to improve support for people living with cancer in the region, starting with a conversation with members of the community.
It forms part of Murray PHN’s Cancer Shared Care project, which aims to improve the health and outcomes of people living with cancer, cancer survivors and their carers.
Shared cancer follow-up care involves the joint participation of specialists and GPs in the planned delivery of cancer care from diagnosis to end of life. This also includes a focus on survivorship – being supported to live as well as possible for as long as possible, during and after active cancer treatment.
The project will strengthen the relationship between GPs and hospital-based oncology teams in acute and primary care settings to work collaboratively with patients and carers.
The Gannawarra Shire area has been identified as having high incidence and mortality for breast, colorectal, prostate and low-risk endometrial cancers.
Murray PHN acting CEO Janine Holland said the workshop would provide an important opportunity for people with a lived experience of cancer to contribute to local service planning.
“We’re working closely with health professionals and other key stakeholders, as well as community members to develop and implement a rural cancer shared care model where care is shared between the hospital-based oncology team and general practice,” Ms Holland said.
“Ultimately, the project aims to help improve the health and wellbeing of people across the region on their cancer journey.”
The workshop will be held at Northern District Community Health (NDCH) in Kerang on Thursday, February 2.
For more information and to RSVP for the workshop, visit https://bit.ly/3hv0rV3 or call Cancer Shared Care Lead Sue Spencer on 0407512963.
