WIMMERA cancer patients now have another avenue to access oncology services.
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Ballarat Health Services and Maryborough District Health Services have partnered for a new outreach program to help people access care closer to home.
Patients in the Grampians region, as well as those in and around Maryborough, will have access to the service.
The move will ease pressure on Ballarat and Bendigo health services and improve patient care in these regions.
Ballarat Health Services started consultations with cancer patients at Maryborough Hospital on Tuesday March 19, with outpatient treatment options set to be available from mid-year.
Ballarat senior oncologist Wasek Faisel will lead the program, which will work similar to Ballarat Health Service satellite programs already running in Horsham, Stawell and Hamilton.
Ballarat Health Services medical oncology clinical director Stephen Brown said reduced travel for patients would have a significant impact in opening up new treatment options for residents.
"A lot of farmers in the regions, for example, have to take a day off and are unable to do this quite regularly, so they might drop off," he said.
"It can be the same issue with those who need someone to drive them to appointments.
"Newer treatments, like immunotherapy, are every two to three weeks and ongoing for a couple of years.
"This is easier closer to home. This program will help extend world-class care to all patients in the region."
Maryborough District Health Service clinical services director Nickola Allan said the partnership would benefit residents in the Central Goldfields Shire and the Wimmera.
"From March 19 a regular service will operate from Maryborough District Health Service under the auspice of Ballarat Health Service and supported by our oncology services operations manager, to provide specialist nursing services and allow for referral to a range of ancillary allied health services at Maryborough District Health Service," she said.
"The establishment of the outreach clinic will enable growth of oncology services, which will allow community members to access public chemotherapy services from July, reducing the burden of travel required for appointments and treatments, and allowing patients to receive treatment closer to home.
"The commencement of such a services will increase access for clients in and around the region, and build on the already established programs that are running at Horsham, Stawell and Hamilton under the leadership of Ballarat Health Services."
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Carly Werner
