New cancer care partnership providing more specialist service
Western District Health Service (WDHS) is partnering with South West Healthcare to increase the frequency of specialist oncology visits to Hamilton.
From January next year, Oncologist, Dr George Iatropoulos will visit Hamilton on a weekly basis, to provide people living with cancer high quality cancer specialist care, close to home.
Chief Executive, Rohan Fitzgerald says the Hamilton Base Hospital cancer service has grown substantially in recent years and the new partnership will further enhance the treatments provided.
“We’re always looking to improve our services to meet the needs of our customers and this partnership will allow us to have a specialist oncologist on site every week, which is a great outcome for our patients.
Since 2016, we’ve had a wonderful relationship with specialists from the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC), who currently visit WDHS two to three times a month. We are very grateful to BRICC for providing these outreach clinics, which are ceasing early next year,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
Since opening the Cancer and Dialysis Centre in 2018, WDHS has increased its services by 60%, with the team delivering over 800 episodes of cancer care last year.
“When we first opened the Cancer Centre, our initial focus was day oncology, but in recent years we’ve also enhanced our cancer support programs to include a symptom urgent review clinic and cancer at home service.
Our aim has always been to support people with cancer to receive the best available care and treatments, as close to home as possible, and this new partnership is another step towards that goal.
Mr Fitzgerald says WDHS will be working closely with the BRICC and South West Healthcare to support patients with the transition.
“Dr Iatropoulos is a highly regarded oncologist, with many years’ experience working both here and in the UK. He has a wonderful rapport with patients, and comprehensive care plans will be established to assist with the change.
The service will continue to be publicly funded, with no out-of-pocket expenses incurred by patients. All other aspects of the local service, including our experienced Cancer Centre nursing team and the provision of chemotherapy and other treatments will remain the same,” Mr Fitzgerald said.
Dr Iatropoulos joined South West Healthcare at the beginning of 2022. South West Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Mr Craig Fraser said.
“We have been very pleased to welcome George to the region. He has brought new energy and ideas and has allowed us to expand the specialist oncology services that we already provide to our community by commencing new clinics both at Warrnambool and Camperdown locations. It is rewarding for SWH and WDHS to work in close partnership to deliver this service to the people of Hamilton.”