A cancer diagnosis can be scary. Comprehensive Cancer Centres are helping to relieve anxiety and concern felt by patients.
Development of a Comprehensive Cancer Centre for WA is being led by the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. In addition to better outcomes for patients, it will contribute to the Federal Government’s Australian Cancer Plan objective of establishing a national network of comprehensive cancer centres.
Comprehensive Cancer Centres around the world are revolutionising the patient experience, and connecting the wide network of medical, remedial and allied health services to the patient in a new way. They put the patient at the centre of a treatment plan, with one place where they can access their doctors, oncologists, therapists, counselling, and other services.
Closely aligned to research institutes, patients and their treatment teams can access the latest medical discoveries, clinical trials and new treatments in one central location.
Most people are affected by cancer in some way.
There are more than 50,000 West Australians currently living with cancer.
People living with cancer in WA receive excellent clinical care; however, their cancer journey can be fragmented and difficult to navigate. Services are high quality but rarely focused on the whole person. There are many who cannot access timely care.
About 50 West Australians a year travel to the eastern states to receive cancer treatment.
Comprehensive cancer centres use a model of care that is person-centred, integrated, research-based and delivered through multi-disciplinary teams working with co-located services.
A comprehensive cancer centre in WA will bring together world-class diagnosis and treatment, holistic care, innovative research, clinical trials and education in a state-of-the-art purpose built facility.
The person affected by cancer will be at the heart of everything the centre does. Health providers will work in partnership with patients to determine their care needs and deliver coordinated and comprehensive treatment using a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and allied health professionals.
A comprehensive cancer centre in WA will be a not-for-profit, autonomous comprehensive cancer centre, which treats people with all types of cancer. It will offer a transformative model of care in a safe and supportive environment, acting as a beacon of best practice for all cancer care in WA and as a sanctuary for those treated there.
The centre will integrate excellent and comprehensive clinical care with the translational cancer research program at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and cancer treatment trials from Linear Clinical Research.
It will use outreach, education and cutting edge technology platforms to serve WA’s rural and remote regions and Aboriginal communities, where cancer experiences and outcomes lag behind metropolitan areas.
The Perkins vision is to develop a contemporary Comprehensive Cancer Centre where care is centred upon and coordinated around the needs of cancer patients to offer them the best experiences and outcomes right here in WA. The 10-storey Cancer Hospital will be dedicated solely to cancer patient care. It includes hundreds of new beds dedicated for cancer care, a dedicated intensive care unit and operating theatres. It comprises:
On site services will include:
Integrating excellent clinical care and cancer services with the Perkins’ translational cancer research and Linear Clinical Research will create a state-of-the-art research and clinical trial facility in one purpose-built, permanent and sustainable asset for WA. Cutting edge technology will drive advances in new diagnostics, therapy and preventive strategies.
Incorporating the lived experience of people in WA into all aspects of the project – a Comprehensive Cancer Centre for WA will embrace best practice health care and research which involves people with cancer and/or their carers at all levels of the project, and in their treatment once the centre opens. Check the “Our Community” page for more information.
Artist’s impressions and video credit: Hames Sharley
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