30 October 2006<%=replace((Recordset1.Fields.Item("NewsStory").Value),VbCrLf,"
")%>

Auckland District Health Board
Breast Cancer Patient offered the opportunity to Travel to Australia for Treatment

ADHB Cancer & Blood Service is offering approximately 30 breast cancer patients the opportunity and choice to go to Australia for radiation treatment as the service endeavours to reduce pressure on its cancer services. 

Breast cancer patients who have undergone surgery and require radiation treatment are experiencing delays due to a 10% increase in service demand and radiation therapist staff shortages due to staff that have resigned or are on maternity leave, compounded by rolling industrial action over the past few months. 

National guidelines recommend that treatment is undertaken within 6-8 weeks post surgery but recent waiting list numbers indicate that some of these breast patients could wait between 10 and 12 weeks. 

Sending patients to other centres within New Zealand has been explored but these centres, which have significant waiting lists, are unable to provide treatment to these patients.  It is therefore proposed that some breast cancer patients be offered the opportunity and choice to have their radiotherapy in Australia as previously undertaken in 2004 and aligned with similar schemes adopted by health authorities in Christchurch, Wellington and Waikato.

“Cancer treatment is one of our key priorities and we are committed to informing our patients about their care plans, possible delays and treatment alternatives, which empowers them to make informed decisions about their health care,” said ADHB Medical Director, Dr Margaret Wilsher.

“We believe that there is a risk that continual delays will lower the success rate of their surgery and that is why we are offering them the opportunity to have treatment in Australia, but it is for the patient to decide if they wish to accept this opportunity,” said Dr Wilsher.

Auckland District Health Board has negotiated a contract with an Australia provider and as a consequence the board will pay $500 plus normal revenue expenditure for each patient and a support person if desired, to go to Australia for the treatment. 

Ends

Fleur King
External Communications Manager
Auckland District Health Board

Phone: 09 630 9952
Fax: 09 630 9789
Mobile: 021 804 122