website

July 2010

Issue 3

 

Ka mohio ka whakatipu
Knowing is Growing


Hello

Welcome to this quarterly Central Cancer Network (CCN) newsletter. I trust you will find the updates of interest.

This quarter has seen the departure of Ali Hamlin and Caren Rangi, Service Improvement Facilitators.  Ali has accepted a position as Whanau Ora Project Manager with Tui Ora in Taranaki and Caren has returned to an auditing role.  We wish them well for their future endeavors and thank them for their contribution to the network.  We are currently recruiting to the fulltime Inequalities position. Please click this link if you require more information about this opportunity.

Please share this newsletter with your colleagues and interested parties.
 
 
Jo Anson
Network Manager



Upcoming events

Regional Consumer Representative Forum -  Wellington, Saturday 31st July 2010

This is the second regional meeting of individuals who have identified themselves as interested in participating as Consumer Representatives across the CCN region.  Expected outcomes for the day include:

  • Attendees having an understanding of statistics and epidemiology with respect to the CCN Health Needs Assessment
  • Attendees having an understanding of the work CCN is undertaking to reduce inequalities with respect to cancer
  • Networking opportunities are enhanced and shared learning supported
  • Attendees having an opportunity to develop consumer related information pamphlets


For more information see the website or contact Stephanie Fletcher, Consumer Representative Coordinator. 


Updates on Current CCN Workplan

Central Region Palliative Care Network (CRPCN) Forum  -  4th June 2010, Palmerston Nth

This regional palliative care forum saw 70+ attendees coming together to listen and interact with guest presenters Professor Merryn Gott and Dr Michal Boyd. The presentations by Professor Gott and Dr Boyd are available via this link.

Attendees at the forum came from a range of specialist and generalist palliative care providers across the region and feedback on the programme was very positive. The success of the forum has lead the CRPCN steering group to consider an annual regional palliative care educational forum with invited presenters.

For more information see the website or contact Jo Anson, CCN Network Manager.

CCN Annual Work Plan for 2010/11

The draft annual work plan for 2010/2011 was sent out to the wider stakeholder database for feedback and comment and was also presented at various stakeholder meetings to gain support and feedback. Feedback received has challenged the team to look at the number and breadth of activities and to prioritise these to ensure they can be delivered within the resources available.

It has been agreed to keep the work plan in draft until a meeting later in the year between the CCN Governance group, DHB Cancer Managers Group and Chairs of the local cancer networks.  At this meeting the findings of the CCNZ evaluation of the networks, the CCN Strategic Plan and the draft Work Plan will be reviewed.

For more information contact Jo Anson, CCN Network Manager.

Regional Lung Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Model

CCN sought feedback from nursing stakeholders across the region on a proposal to develop a regional lung CNS model. This proposal arose from recommendations within the Regional Lung Report and is supported by funding from the MOH Cancer Services Development Fund. Feedback from stakeholders did not support the proposed project due to concerns around building expectations for a model when there is no funding currently to support it.  The Directors of Nursing from CCDHB and MDHB proposed that CCN consider a discussion document on regional specialist cancer nursing roles in general - this is currently being scoped.

For more information contact Shirlee McLean, Project Manager.

Regional Bowel Report and Implementation Plan

The Regional Bowel Report has been completed and will be presented to the Bowel Cancer Steering Group at the beginning of August for their endorsement and to prioritise the implementation plan.  Following this the report and implementation plan will be circulated to wider stakeholders.

For more information see the website or contact Shirlee McLean, Project Manager.

Service Directory

CCN has commenced this project to develop an e-based directory to provide information on cancer services, supportive care services and palliative care services for consumers, carers and service providers alike. This work is supported by recommendations in the Supportive Care Guidance and builds on activity in the Hutt / Wellington region on the development of a paper based directory. The four regional cancer networks are working collaboratively on the functionality and design of the directory which will be hosted and maintained by the networks.

An advisory group has been established to guide the project and it is anticipated that the directory will be available on line prior to Christmas.
 

  Request for Information

To assist us to identify as many service providers as possible who might want to be included in this directory we would appreciate receiving copies of any databases / directories you may currently have developed.  Please send these to Stephanie Fletcher at  Stephanie.fletcher@midcentraldhb.govt.nz


For more information contact Stephanie Fletcher, Project Manager.

Multidisciplinary Meetings (MDM) Project

Work continues on supporting the efficient and effective functioning of MDMs in the region, with an initial focus on lung and bowel MDMs.

Updates:

  • Seeking support from the Regional Human Resource Managers group to include reference to MDMs in relevant position descriptions and job-sizing activities.
  • Work continues with a private insurer to include provision for access to an MDM opinion within their policies.
  • Video conferencing (VC) suites are being developed in Capital and Coast DHB and MidCentral DHB to establish them as DHB video conferencing hubs.  The team will then work with the referring DHBs in the CCN region to ensure active VC links to the hubs.

For more information see the website or contact Shirlee McLean, Project Manager.


Work Due for Completion in the next Quarter:

  • Recruitment to the Inequalities Service Improvement Facilitator position
  • Care Coordination Services Review Guide
  • Regional Dental Forum
  • Lung and Bowel MDM Development
  • Medical Imaging Guidelines post implementation review
  • Regional Cancer Control Indicators Report - August 2010



International updates

International Collaboration in Cancer Control

Betsy Marshall, Executive Director of the New Zealand Cancer Control Trust participated in the 3rd International Cancer Control Congress in Cernobbio, Italy 8th - 11th November last year.  Betsy has provided a report that documents presentations and experiences that in her view, "have particular relevance to New Zealand".  Betsy's very interesting report can be find by accessing this link to the CCN website.

A 'kiwi' advocate perspective on the 2010 American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) meeting

In April 2010 Dr Christine Walsh attended the Scientist - Survivor Program, as a sponsored consumer representative.  The programme was run in conjunction with the 101st AACR meeting in Washington DC, USA.  This program offered advocates exposure to cutting-edge research and unparalleled opportunities to meet prominent international cancer researchers. Seventeen and a half thousand people registered for the AACR meeting.  Survivor programmes ran alongside Scientific programmes, offering opportunity for collaboration between the two groups.
 
'The Special Interest Sessions  for Survivors  were designed especially for advocates. There were choices throughout the five days of attending the smaller advocate only sessions or plunging out into the wider meeting to listen to other presentations in the scientific program.'
 
Chris' full report on the meeting can be found at this link.



National updates

National Bowel Cancer Programme

The Ministry of Health established a Bowel Cancer Programme in 2009 to lead work aimed at improving bowel cancer outcomes for all New Zealanders.

Updates:

  • Bowel Screening Pilots - A four year bowel screening pilot will begin by late 2011 to determine whether a bowel screening programme should be rolled out nationally. A request for proposal process is currently underway and information is available at http://www.specialz.co.nz/email-stats/click2.asp?cid=11743137&eid=108233&URL=sggk%3A//ddd.tvgh.tleg.ma/  (reference #30399)
  • The Bowel Cancer Programme now comes under the wider cancer programme within the Ministry of Health
  • National Bowel Working Group - Discussions continue regarding the formation of this national group to support an initial focus on the development of a generic bowel cancer pathway (including recommendations on a minimum standard for investigation, treatment and ultimately supportive care).  An inaugural meeting is anticipated early August with the inclusion of representation from the regional network advisory groups
  • Stakeholders were invited to comment on the Draft Service Delivery Model for the Bowel Screening Pilot in June 2010
  • Dr David Theobald has been appointed as National Clinical Lead for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Supportive Care Guidance Implementation Plan

Health Outcomes International (HOI) is leading this work to identify the current levels and quality of supportive care service provision across NZ to inform the development of a national implementation plan.  An Implementation Working Group with membership from a wide range of stakeholders has been convened and are currently working with HOI to develop the project approach which is expected to be agreed and communicated to stakeholders by the end of August. 

Evaluation of Regional Cancer Networks

Thank-you to those of you who completed the Cancer Control New Zealand (CCNZ) on-line survey that is part of the evaluation of the regional cancer networks -  there were over 100 received from the CCN region.  The completed report is due to be presented to CCNZ in September and results will be made public after that.

Northern Cancer Network primary care and secondary care national stock-take of services for people with suspected lung cancer

This national stocktake of innovative services is a key component of the current HRC_DHBNZ funded lung cancer research project, distributed to all District Health Boards and Primary Healthcare Organisations at the beginning of May. The aim of stocktake is to identify services and initiatives that could facilitate earlier diagnosis and improve care for people with possible lung cancer and their family or whanau. The services do not have to be specifically for people with lung cancer, but should be potentially relevant to such patients. Of particular interest are services that operate prior to diagnosis, and especially those targeted to Maori, Pacific and rural patients.


The Northern Cancer Network along with the Expert Advisory Group and Inequalities Team working on the project would like to thank those who have responded. With the information you and others provide we hope to improve health services for people with lung cancer and their family/whanua. The stock take results will be reported nationally and used to advise the recommendations for service change at the completion of the study.


For further information please go to www.northerncancernetwork.co.nz or if you wish to discuss the survey, contact:


Melissa Murray                                                                       Gary Thompson
Research coordinator                                                             Inequalities Project Manager
Northern Cancer Network                                                        Northern Cancer Network
09 923 5133                                                                            09 589 3918



District Updates

Addressing Inequalities Pilot Funding 09/10 for Local Cancer Networks

CCN funded Local Cancer Networks $10K per district from the 09/10 budget to undertake initiatives to address inequalities in their area. Funding applications have been received from each of the Local Cancer Networks in the CCN region and initiatives have started. 

  • MidCentral Local Cancer Network - developing a patient information resource (Te Kete Ora) to enhance Maori engagement and access to services at an earlier stage of the cancer journey.
  • Taranaki Local Cancer Network - Delivery of Demystifying Cancer Workshops to Maori communities across the Taranaki region.
  • Whanganui Local Cancer Network - Workforce development using the Demystifying Cancer approach, including site visits. Mapping the Cancer Patient Journey via three hui which will bring together communities and providers.
  • Hawkes Bay Local Cancer Network - Delivery of Demystifying Cancer workshops to communities in the Hawkes Bay region (proposed).
  • Hutt Valley/ Wellington Local Cancer Network - Demystifying Cancer for Maori communities workshops and delivering a Demystifying Cancer for Pacific programme via Wellington Access radio and Samoan Capital Radio.
  • Wairarapa Local Cancer Network - Delivery of Demystifying Cancer workshops to communities in Wairarapa and the development of a local information resource.
  • Tairawhiti Local Cancer Network - support an understanding of the navigator positions within the region; deliver Demystifying Cancer for Maori communities workshops; workforce development to improve post-care urology support.

CCN will share the results of each project as they progress.

For more information see the website or contact Jo Anson, CCN Network Manager.
 


Contact Details

 

Jo Anson

Manager

Jo.anson@midcentraldhb.govt.nz

06 350 8622 or 027 446 3261

Simon Allan

Clinical Director

Simon.allan@midcentraldhb.govt.nz

 

Andrew Simpson

Clinical Director

Andrew.simpson@ccdhb.org.nz

 

Shirlee McLean

Service Improvement Facilitator

Shirlee.mclean@midcentraldhb.govt.nz

06 350 8986
027 568 0533

Stephanie Fletcher

Support Coordinator

Stephanie.fletcher@midcentraldhb.govt.nz

06 350 8918

Jon Herries

Regional MDM Development Project

Jon.herrries@ccdhb.org.nz

04 806 2593
021 075 9420

Our postal address is:                                                                Visit our website
Central Cancer Network                                                              www.centralcancernetwork
C/- MidCentral Health                                                                  for additional, up-to-date information
PO Box 2056
Palmerston North
 
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