Southern Health BSEP

Program Overview

The Southern Health BSEP broadly covers the region of southeast Melbourne with a population of around 340,000 women aged 20 and over and with a projected growth of 15.2% over the next ten years.

Southern Health was the leading agency and incorporates Monash Medical Centre and Dandenong Hospital as well as a number of community health services. Program activities were organised from the Moorabbin campus of Monash Medical Centre, where most Southern Health breast services are based, including surgery, oncology, BreastScreen, family genetics and a co-located Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute (PMCI) Radiotherapy Unit. All units including the PMCI were involved with the Program's activities and management committees.

The small part time management team of Administration, clinical Managers and a Project Worker were supported by a steering committee with representation from senior members of Southern Health departments such as Social Work, the Centre for Clinical Effectiveness, Psychological Medicine, Day Chemotherapy Unit and Breast Service Consumers.

Program Objectives

The Southern Health BSEP aimed to build on and strengthen aspects of existing service to improve the experience of care for women with breast cancer and to assist health care providers further implement best practice.

Projects were designed around improved multidisciplinary care and introducing breast care nurses to Southern Health and associated services. Additionally several 'special projects' were developed, including a Lymphoedema service which provides a clinical service to women with lymphoedema and a prevention exercise program for women immediately post surgery. A Project to improve consumer input to service review and planning, a Data report development Project and a Patient Held Record were also successfully implemented.