Issues

Cancer Voices NSW seeks:

Better Access to Quality Care

  1. Provide best practice cancer care, focused on patient needs, for all patients, wherever located
  2. Wherever possible, provide treatment in accredited comprehensive cancer care centres, preferably offering multi-disciplinary services from diagnosis to palliation including psychosocial care.
  3. Provide greater access to radiotherapy services

Better Access to Information

  1. Provide better consumer information of the quality needed, when it is wanted and for all stages of cancer, including public awareness of the importance of early detection and treatment
  2. Ensure treatment or cancer care plans, including discharge plans are provided for all patients
  3. Provide greater access to, and understanding of the value of, clinical trials
  4. Provide evidence-based advice for pre and post cancer treatment, including information about supplementary and alternate diets and other therapies

Fixing the System

  1. Ensure cancer consumers participate at all levels of decision-making in relation to their disease, particularly in the areas of awareness, treatment, research, support and care.
  2. Develop an accreditation system in cancer care for Area Health Services to ensure standards are met
  3. Address anomalies and inequities in PBS, Medicare, private health insurance, other insurance and work related problems
  4. Identify and address the needs of special groups: children, young people, rural people, carers, families and other community groups.
  5. Ensure a more equitable share of total health expenditure is allocated to treatment and to research for cancer – the leading cause of death for Australians
  6. Promote better access to new high cost, targeted therapies

Survivorship and Support

  1. Seek recognition of the important role support groups have in assisting many patients in dealing with psychosocial factors of diagnosis, treatment and recurrence.
  2. Work for awareness of, and regular referral to, cancer support groups by general practitioners, cancer specialists and centres.

NOTE: Priority issues are regularly updated by feedback from the membership. Join and let us know your views.

Back to Top | This page updated: 2007-04-24

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