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Cancer
Cancer is the leading cause of mortality in Victoria, and generates a high level of consumer concern. The care of cancer patients represents a significant proportion of all health care delivered in Victoria.
The need for improved delivery of cancer services along with improved outcomes for patients and their families has been identified as a priority for both State and Federal governments and is driven by many factors including trends in population health, workforce issues, the increasing complexity and cost of cancer care and the shift of cancer treatment to the ambulatory setting.
The Victorian Department of Health has a significant cancer reform agenda that aims to improve planning and delivery of treatment and support to patients so that appropriate care is provided in a timely manner as close to the patient’s home as possible.
Two leading policy documents guiding Victoria's reforms are Victoria's Cancer Action Plan and the Cancer Services Framework.
What does cancer clinical networking look like in Victoria?
Integrated Cancer Services (ICS) – partnerships between health services for the purpose of service planning, coordination and improvement across a geographic area. They are the platforms through which improvements in care delivery and patient care are being implemented.
Tumour streams – collaborative approaches to care and service improvement involving multidisciplinary health professionals around particular tumour categories. Tumour streams promote a consistent approach to care for a particular tumour category, in order to reduce unacceptable variations in care. Local collaborating tumour groups have been established in each ICS.
Victorian Integrated Cancer Services (VICS) Group (Directors & Program Managers) – works to ensure that ongoing changes in cancer service delivery are driven by the ICS (and therefore the tumour streams) and that agreement is reached on state-wide initiatives and proposed work related to the implementation of cancer reform policies and frameworks.
Victorian Integrated Cancer Services (VICS) Governance Group – provides a forum for communication regarding governance and performance of the ICS to the department.
Victorian Cooperative Oncology Group (VCOG) – (and its 18 advisory committees) provides expert advice on all clinical aspects of cancer control, especially in clinical research and service direction.
Victorian Cancer Clinical Quality & Outcomes Committee (CQOC) – provides strategic advice on measuring the quality, safety and patient experience of cancer care in Victoria, and improving outcomes of cancer care. The committee also contributes expertise to the identification of quality and safety priorities, performance measures, project assurance for cancer services.
What are the aims of the Cancer Clinical Network in Victoria?
The established state-wide Cancer Clinical Network aims to:
- Implement best practice models of cancer care
- Improve the effectiveness of cancer care through system coordination and integration
- Systematically monitor processes and outcomes of cancer care to improve system-wide performance
Further detail regarding cancer reform policy and programs can be found on the Cancer Services in Victoria website.
Further information
Linda Nolte
Cancer Quality Program Manager
Telephone: (61 3) 9096 1323
