The Loddon Mallee Region is located in the northwest corner
of Victoria and covers a geographic area of 58,965 square
kilometers, or approximately 26% of the area of the State,
making it the largest of the nine DHS Regions in terms of
geographic area.
The Breast Services Enhancement Program (BSEP) was established
in July 1999. As a result of the work undertaken by this program
a multi-disciplinary care approach to breast disease is evolving
in the region. The stakeholder groups involved include: consumer
representatives, clinicians, breast care nurses, other allied
health care professionals and hospital administration representatives.
The Loddon Mallee BSEP included the following key agencies:
Mount Alvernia Mercy Hospital (lead agency)
The Bendigo Hospital
Mildura Hospital
Swan Hill Hospital
Echuca Hospital
Loddon Mallee Women's Health
Regional Community Health Centres
Overall management of the program was through a regional
Steering Committee, clinical coordinator, program manager,
DHS project officer, project worker, and regional breast care
nurse coordinator. The BSEP's focus was to enhance the region's
breast services by encouraging a strong consumer focus on
service development. To facilitate this, two consumer representatives
were members of the regional Steering Committee.
Program Objectives
The Loddon Mallee BSEP Steering Committee identified four
priority areas for development. These areas were Multidisciplinary
Care, Breast Care Nurse Positions, Integrated Care for Women,
and Information Provision and Support for women and their
families. The overarching objective of the Program was to
develop each priority area:
The multidisciplinary care concept was developed to enhance
the existing skills of all clinicians and to incorporate
the NH&MRC Guidelines as the best practice standard
and regional protocols.
Recognition of the importance of the Breast Care Nurse
role to both the delivery of multidisciplinary care and
support for women was a high priority. By developing the
concept of psychosocial support as a part of multidisciplinary
care and part of the Breast Care Nurse role, as well as
focusing on continuity of care, a holistic approach to care
delivery for women with breast cancer was established.
Engaging consumers at Steering Committee, working party
and advisory group levels achieved consumer focus and input
into the development of these strategies.
