Cancer care across the NSW Health System, closing the cancer care gap, and celebrating women and girls in science. |
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On Saturday (4 February), people all around the world came together for World Cancer Day.
With one in two people in NSW diagnosed with some type of cancer by the age of 85, everyone knows someone impacted by cancer. Whether you are living with a diagnosis, caring for a loved one, or supporting a friend, family or colleague.
As NSW Health staff, you are at the centre of cancer care in NSW – guiding patients through prevention to screening, diagnosis, treatment, and management.
It's why the incredible work happening at the Cancer Institute NSW and across the health system to deliver outcomes with the NSW Cancer Plan is so important. |
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In this edition, you’ll see how our remarkable staff from regional NSW to the city are improving access to care and working to close the cancer care gap.
I am incredibly proud of all NSW Health staff who work every day to support patients and their loved ones affected by cancer. Your care and compassion make a real difference to the experience of patients and their families who are facing an incredibly tough diagnosis.
Finally, in honour of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, I’d like to thank all the women across NSW Health working in medical science, research, technology, and engineering. Your work is ground-breaking, barrier-breaking and deeply valued by the entire health system. Kind regards,
Susan Pearce AM
Secretary, NSW Health
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Closing the cancer care gap |
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The theme of this year’s World Cancer Day is ‘Close The Care Gap’.
Language, literacy, ethnicity, race, settlement, income, education, socio economic status, and geographical location are just a few of the factors that contribute to the cancer care gap.
The team at the Cancer Institute NSW is working every day to close the care gap and fulfil the vision of the NSW Cancer Plan.
Sheetal Challam plays a special part in achieving that vision. As the Multicultural Strategic Advisor, Sheetal and the team make sure culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), and refugee communities can also access world-class cancer care. |
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“In my role, I have the opportunity and the honour of listening to and witnessing stories, real emotions and experiences of patients and carers affected by cancer,” Sheetal said. The achievements of the Cancer Institute NSW are a team effort that Sheetal is proud to be a part of. “We take a tailored approach that is culturally sensitive. Once we understand their cultural needs,
we can transfer this knowledge into meaningful initiatives.” |
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“I feel lucky to work with a talented and dedicated team who share the same vision of affecting change to improve cancer outcomes for the whole of the community,” Sheetal said.
Sheetal and the staff at the Cancer Institute NSW have made an incredible effort to keep people healthy and deliver safe and meaningful care, but there’s still a long way to go to end cancers as we know them.
“We are constantly thinking of ways to support CALD and refugee communities so that the gap is closed, and we can reduce the cancer burden for these communities,” Sheetal said. |
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Some of the Cancer Institute NSW initiatives supporting CALD communities |
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Inspiring women and girls to pursue science |
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Dr Kavitha (Kavi) Gowrishankar |
| “What is science-fiction today, is achievable tomorrow.”
This is the belief of Dr Kavitha Gowrishankar (Kavi), Scientific Lead of the Advanced Cellular Therapeutics team at The Children’s Hospital, Westmead.
To celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (11 February), Kavi is spreading the message that anyone who is passionate can have a fulfilling career in science.
Kavi’s passion began at a young age, growing up in a family of doctors and discussing diseases around the dinner table. |
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Her interest in research grew as she discovered the world of genetics, molecular biology and immunology.
Today, Kavi and her team are working on the ‘CAR T-cell Project’ which uses genetic modifying tools, using the patient's own cells, to develop immunotherapies to help treat cancer in children with sarcoma. Or as Kavitha puts it, “we are giving kids the superpowers to fight off cancer.”
Every project that Kavi has worked on is part of a bigger picture - to help patients. But her current projects with The Children’s Hospital at Westmead are her most exciting yet.
“Using genetic engineering to develop novel immunotherapies is definitely a highlight of my research. It is incredibly satisfying to see the positive outcomes of years of research and having an incredible team of supportive colleagues, staff and mentors, to work with, makes it all the more enjoyable,” Kavi said.
In honour of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Kavi wants to inspire other girls and women to persist with their dreams of working in science.
“It can be hard, but it is worth it. In research especially, it is easy to be disheartened by negative results, but it’s important to keep sight of your goal and never accept that something is impossible.” |
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An honour for NSW Health staff |
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Congratulations to the NSW Health staff recognised in this year's Australia Day honours. The awards are a significant honour and recognise dedication and service to the NSW community.
See the list of staff recognised on the NSW Health website. |
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Staff at Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network (Justice Health NSW) are bridging care gaps for patients in custody. While some patients come into the care of Justice Health NSW with an existing cancer diagnosis, other patients become unwell while in secure settings.
The challenge for the Justice Health NSW Primary Care Team is to ensure all patients have a positive experience – the key to this is compassion and collaboration.
“By having virtual multi-disciplinary meetings involving oncologists and our colleagues from Prince of Wales Hospital, Westmead and other hospitals, we are able to provide shared care of cancer patients state-wide,” Dr Gary Nicholls said, Justice Health NSW Clinical Director.
“This can reduce the number of hospital visits needed, keeping patients more comfortable by not travelling long distances for unnecessary appointments.”
The staff at Justice Health NSW use virtual patient records to work with other local health districts, GPs, nurses, and cancer care coordinators. This helps to manage patient treatment plans no matter where they are located.
“Shared patient records ensure a continuum of care across the hospital system, with the aim of eventually sharing the NSW Health single digital patient record across the health network,” Dr Nicholls said. |
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Name: Wendy Hoey
Role: Chief Executive, Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network
Now, let’s get to know you a little better… What are three words your family and friends would use to describe you? Loyal, practical, fun. Last great TV show or movie you watched?
I really enjoyed the new Top Gun movie. Favourite book or podcast?
I like fantasy, Terry Pratchet, Robin Hobb but my favourite would be Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. |
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If you could learn a new skill, what would it be? I’m always learning a new skill. I would like to learn to play guitar - it’s on my to-do list!
If you’re cooking dinner, what will everyone be eating? I absolutely love to cook but my favourite meal is simple – steak and chips, pepper sauce to the side and some fried onions and mushrooms. Any hidden talents? I’m very transparent, not much is hidden! |
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The first Conversation in Human Experience for 2023
Join Karol Petrovska, Director of Virtual Care at the NSW Ministry of Health, for a conversation about connection, comfort, and choice: the case for virtual care, on Thursday 23 February from 10:00am.
Access the event through Microsoft Teams or email the Patient Experience Team if you’d like to receive a calendar invite.
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| Join in on the first Value Based Healthcare Event
The Value Based Healthcare Event series will celebrate successes, learnings, and key enablers for change.
Register now to attend the first session on Tuesday 14 February at 11:00am.
Deb Willcox, Deputy Secretary, Health System Strategy and Planning, and George Leipnik, Director Strategy and System Priorities will be discussing how value based healthcare supports Future Health and our vision. |
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Save the date for the 2022 Excellence in Allied Health Awards The 2022 Excellence in Allied Health Awards are coming up on Thursday 23 February, 2023.
Join in on the celebrations and watch the Awards live from 6:00pm on the NSW Health website. |
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| New beginnings to a 20-year career |
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Christine Archer, Nurse Practitioner (NP) at Southern New South Wales Local Health District (SNSWLHD), is helping patients access cancer care closer to home with SNSWLHD’s new Nurse Practitioner Cancer Services. Christine specialises in oncology and dermatology and has over 20 years’ experience. She completed her training in apheresis and autologous stem cell transplant in 2006 and her Masters in Cancer and Haematology Nursing at the University of Sydney in 2017. To add to the already long list of achievements, Christine was the 2019 ACT Nurse of the Year.
Now, a new pathway has opened in Christine’s career with SNSWLHD’s new virtual service. “Distance is one of the major barriers to quality healthcare in regional and rural areas.” “This role has allowed me to set up NP led, face to face and telehealth clinics in Cooma, Goulburn, Moruya and Bega for cancer patients experiencing symptoms or side effects from their cancer treatment or from the disease itself,” Christine said. |
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Cancer care has changed enormously throughout Christine’s career. This new service is helping Christine and other NPs to provide much needed support to regional and rural communities. “I enjoy travelling around the district to each oncology unit, meeting new people, patients and their families, and being welcomed into their lives.
“It is wonderful to see staff taking the time to chat to each other and to patients. It's reflective of a healthy, progressive workplace culture,” Christine said. |
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Cancer Institute NSW at the CORE |
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Our CORE values are at the heart of everything we do at NSW Health. At the CORE showcases the teams, initiatives and achievements from around the system that display our values in action.
Collaboration: Cancer Institute NSW are working together with local health districts (LHDs) across the state to give cancer patients a voice in their treatment and care plan.
More than 10,000 surveys in NSW have asked people with cancer about their treatment and care, marking a major milestone for the Patient-reported Measures (PRMs) team from the Cancer Institute NSW. Collaborating across the state, the electronic collection of PRMs is now available at 22 cancer services across nine LHDs in NSW and continues to capture the human experience of cancer.
The PRM team is incredibly proud to see the positive impacts that have come from the survey.
“It’s helping them think about their cancer care and how they’re feeling, and what they can do about it. It’s proven to be an extremely useful tool for both the clinicians and the patients,” says Karina McCarthy, Health Information Manager at the Institute. |
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The milestone came off the back of a successful 2022, with the Cancer Institute NSW team also being named a finalist in the 24th Annual NSW Health Awards.
“We feel validated that the work we are doing is really making a difference in patient care,” Karina said. |
| Cancer Institute NSW Patient-Reported Measures finalist video for the 2022 NSW Health Awards |
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Cancer care close to home |
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Armidale couple Bob and Pat Hanson thought they’d have to budget for large travel and accommodation costs when Bob learned he needed cancer treatment in Coffs Harbour. “When Bob was diagnosed with cancer, it was a very stressful and overwhelming time as his treatment was going to be in Coffs, 180km away, and he needed six weeks of radiation treatment,” Pat said. Pat contacted the local Hunter New England Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) office and was assisted through the application process by team member Anneliese Blair, who Pat said was “just amazing”. “It was very fulfilling being able to help Bob and Pat at such a difficult time. To be able to assist patients financially with their travel and accommodation costs to help them access life-saving treatments is very rewarding,” Anneliese said. |
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| Through IPTAAS, the couple was able to stay in Coffs Harbour, easing their concerns around travel and giving them the opportunity to really focus on Bob’s health.
“I hope that patients who receive assistance through IPTAAS feel some sort of ease when going through such a difficult time in their lives,” Anneliese said.
IPTAAS provides financial subsidies to contribute to covering the out-of-pocket costs of people living in rural, regional and remote NSW accessing health services and treatment not available locally. The scheme continues to expand to support more people in these communities.
For more information visit the IPTAAS website. |
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A step closer to integrated NSW Health patient records
NSW Health recently announced Epic as the preferred technology supplier, pending successful contract negotiations, to deliver the Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR). |
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SDPR will deliver a highly secure, holistic and integrated view of the care a patient receives across NSW Health and provide clinicians with fast access to an integrated record of a patient’s clinical history. SDPR will be jointly delivered by eHealth NSW and NSW Health Pathology, in collaboration with local health districts, specialty health networks and other NSW Health organisations. |
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Watch Susan Pearce, Secretary NSW Health, and Dr Zoran Bolevich, Chief Executive eHealth NSW and Chief Information Officer NSW Health, speak about this milestone for the SDPR. |
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Eliminating hepatitis B as a public health concern by 2030 The latest NSW Hepatitis B Strategy 2023-2026 outlines our commitment to eliminate hepatitis B as a public health concern by 2030 and provides a framework for hepatitis B prevention, early diagnosis, and linkage to care. To learn more about how you can help to engage people with chronic hepatitis B and support them in receiving timely and appropriate care, see our latest NSW Hepatitis B Strategy 2023-2026. |
| COVID-19 information update
Read the full Clinical Intelligence Unit Evidence Digest here. |
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We acknowledge the Aboriginal traditional custodians of the land in which we live and work and pay respects to all Elders past, present and emerging. We also acknowledge all the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff working with the NSW Government. |
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