Radiotherapy Service Planning

Victorian Radiotherapy Service Plan 2006-2011

Victorian Radiotherapy Service Plan - July 2007 (PDF file 1.17MB)

The Victorian radiotherapy service plan has been developed as part of a national process, led by the Radiation Oncology Reform Implementation Committee (RORIC), for each jurisdiction to develop five-year strategic plans for radiotherapy, based on common parameters.

The development of this service plan will inform national radiotherapy strategic planning, as well as providing estimates of radiotherapy service requirements, and recommendations for service development in Victoria over the medium and long term.

Service requirements were modelled using parameters agreed upon by Victorian radiotherapy service providers and forecasts of cancer incidence provided by the Victorian Department of Human Services.  Radiotherapy requirements were calculated at the level of the Integrated Cancer Services through to 2011, with longer-term forecasts undertaken to 2021.  Facilities in both the public and private sectors were taken into account.

The service plan makes several recommendations and the Victorian Department of Human Services has already delivered on some of these whilst work is in progress on others.

The key recommendations from the Victorian radiotherapy service plan are:

1. To meet anticipated demand requirements, planning should commence as a priority for a new radiotherapy service at the Western Health catchment. Progress (Feb 2009) – The government is funding $40.6 million to build a 4 bunker radiotherapy centre as part of the Sunshine Hospital redevelopment due to open in 2010/11.
   
   
2. The Gippsland Cancer Treatment Centre should be expanded to two linacs by 2011 to meet regional demand, and planning should commence to expand the Ballarat radiotherapy service by one bunker and one linac to ensure this service can meet regional demand by 2011. Progress (Feb 2009) – master planning is being undertaken for the expansion of the Ballarat radiotherapy service in 2012.  Expansion to the Gippsland service will be considered as volumes increase (anticipated ~2010-2011).
   
   
3. Outdated linacs at the Austin, Alfred and Geelong Hospitals should be replaced by 2007-08. Progress (Feb 2009) – the Austin and Geelong have each had their linear accelerators replaced. The Alfred have replaced one outdated linear accelerator and upgraded its oldest unit with state-of-the-art equipment for stereotactic radiotherapy. This recommendation has been delivered with state funding of $16 million.
   
   
4. A Radiotherapy Equipment Replacement Program should be developed to ensure the long-term viability of public radiotherapy services in Victoria. Progress (Feb 2009) – A Radiotherapy Equipment Replacement Program will be developed in 2009 for replacement needs from 2011.
   
   
5. Procurement of radiotherapy services from the private sector for public patients should be examined to assess the adequacy of existing arrangements and inform options for expanding this to include non-admitted patients. Progress (Feb 2009) – Victoria’s Cancer Action Plan 2008-11 includes a target of developing shared care arrangements with private radiotherapy services to improve public access for patients from disadvantaged areas.
   
   
6. That service planning parameters be reviewed within three years to ensure practice and technology changes can be accounted for. Progress (Feb 2009) – a full review and update of the Victorian Radiotherapy Service Plan will commence in 2009. This will include a review of broader radiotherapy modalities including brachytherapy services.
   
   
7. To ensure that radiotherapy service planning is based on accurate information, and to inform ongoing quality and efficiency measures, the Radiotherapy Minimum Dataset established for the National Radiotherapy Single Machine Unit Trial Evaluation should be continued and expanded to include all Victorian radiotherapy services. Progress (Feb 2009) – the department in collaboration with the four health services providing public radiotherapy in Victoria have developed the Victorian Radiotherapy Minimum Dataset. Data collection commenced in December 2008.