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Telephone: 0418 932
798 ABN 26 201 855 9000 |
Enhancing Cancer Services. Murdoch University Peel Campus
This project identified barriers interfering with delivery of treatment to South West Cancer patients. While patients advised by Cancer Coordinator Nurses (CCN) fared well, those not referred to them fared less well, and some had a compromised treatment regime. Mandatory referral to CCN has been recommended. Communication between practitioners and especially with the patient and family physician was another potential barrier to optimal treatment delivery.
The conclusions of the final report:
Summary and conclusions
There was a significant difference between the experiences of the participants who had the involvement of the Cancer Care Coordinator, Cancer Support Workers and the Breast Nurse and other participants that had none of this support. Participants in rural areas where they had had the same GP for many years and who were hospitalized in their local small country hospital spoke positively of the experience in terms of the care and support shown to them by both the GP and all the staff in the facility. This involved but was not limited to, carers being given free accommodation for the duration of a hospitalization (in excess of one month) and provision of tea/coffee and biscuits to visitors who had traveled a long way. This experience was in stark contrast to the experiences of country participants who traveled to the city where accommodation was unavailable “unless your partner was dying – being critically ill in intensive care did not count” and there was a lack of understanding and empathy concerning geographical distances and the time it took families to get from regional areas to Perth.
It was evident from all interviews that there is minimal knowledge about the resources available and how to access them. Without an advocate doing this for patients they simply do not seem to access any resources.
The main concerns with delivery of care for both health professionals and patients appear to be similar. The lack of coordination of care, follow up care, poor discharge planning and an inadequate referral process coupled with inadequate staffing and a large geographical area are themes that emerged from all aspects of the research. Specialist breast nurses are in position in most of the major rural southwest towns (Bunbury, Collie, Busselton, Bridgetown) leading to better support for people with breast cancer.
It was evident that those people who were involved with the CCC, Breast Nurse and the Cancer Council had significantly better experiences than those who did not. Rural GPs were spoken of as being caring and empathetic but were often viewed as having a minimal role in the management and treatment of the cancer.
Local (rural) hospitals and their staff were praised by all participants who had been hospitalised in them. Local (rural) hospitals were spoken of as being more empathetic, more caring and providing care for the whole family as opposed to metropolitan hospitals which were viewed as being clinically competent but lacking empathy and care. The CCC and the Cancer Council support workers were spoken of in glowing terms with the two participants that were involved with them viewing them as their main support people throughout their experience.