Nursing and allied health professionals occupy a high percentage of the cancer care workforce in the Grampians region of Victoria. However, their capacity to influence cancer care improvements at a strategic level is often overshadowed by existing models.
The Grampians Integrated Cancer Service (GICS) is seeking to redress this issue by establishing a regional clinical network for nursing and allied health professionals. It will share an equal voice with three other established GICS working groups for consumers, cancer medical specialists and general practitioners.
The network focus aligns with the GICS mission: ‘To improve the experience and outcomes for those affected by cancer across the Grampians region by improving access to high quality, integrated, patient-centred care close to home.’
Two pillars of the GICS Strategic Plan will direct the work of the network: 1) to support the development of optimal models of care and 2) to promote Grampians service integration.
Network membership is self-regulated and returned via expression of interest. Clinical expertise extends from specialized oncology staff to generalist local cancer resource nurses. Membership extends from acute cancer services to community-based care. Executive level interest and buy-in is keen.
Contemporary and emerging themes such as professional minimum cancer educational and skills requirements for the cancer, workforce, delivery and provision of optimal supportive care and cancer survivorship care will provide an initial framework to concentrate efforts. Terms of Reference have been completed. Formation of network membership is underway. The network will launch in early March.
An appointed GICS Governance Group member will work with the network to deliver solutions and be a conduit for reporting to the Governance Group. The solutions identified are anticipated to contribute to an improved regional cancer system.