Tumour collaboratives

Tumour collaboratives have been established for each of the main tumour types. The collaboratives are multidisciplinary and include consumer and carer representatives as part of their membership. Through the lead clinician they are directly responsible to the Director of the WA Cancer and Palliative Care Network. The lead clinician may rotate every 1–2 years and may come from any discipline within the collaborative (for example medical oncology, surgical, radiation oncology).

Aims of tumour collaboratives

• Achieve best practice and outcomes for all patients diagnosed with cancer.
• Develop outcome benchmarks for the various groups, which can be monitored throughout the state by the Director of the network.
• Establish the resources needed to achieve these outcomes and lobby for their provision.
• Ensure standards by all providers – staff and institutions – are maintained. Formal accreditation processes are being developed.
• Measure agreed outcomes for all patients, such as mortality, morbidity, quality of life.
• Develop management guidelines for particular tumours and audit adherence.
• Act as an educational focus / forum.
• Address the special needs for patients from rural areas and act as a resource for rural practitioners.

Endpoints of the collaboratives

• Define standards of care and develop treatment guidelines.
• Improve survival and other defined outcomes for specified tumours.
• Develop resources for all aspects of care from diagnosis to treatment and follow-up.

List of lead clinicians

More services:

» Cancer nurse coordination service
» Directory of cancer services
» Multidisciplinary clinic referrals (PDF 80KB)
» National bowel screening program
» Psycho-oncology service
» Telehealth