eNewsletter  |  December 2020

Guides to best cancer care

Optimal care pathways (OCPs) are national guides that describe the best possible cancer care for patients with specific types of cancer. All nineteen pathways are based on the best available evidence and describe the key stages in a patient’s cancer journey, from diagnosis to survivorship or end-of-life care.

For each cancer pathway there are three groups of resources:
• Detailed clinical pathways for cancer specialists, health professionals and health service administrators
• Quick reference guides for GPs -  familiarise GPs and primary care providers with the care pathway
• Patient Guides to best cancer care  -  assist patients and their carers understand the care pathway from initial investigation through to  diagnosis, treatment, living with cancer and further support

A new online platform for the patient  ‘Guide to best cancer care’ resources has been developed by Cancer Council. It supports health professionals by providing a central location to access the guides to best cancer care guide for your patients. Support patients, their family, and carers by printing and sharing these guides as appropriate. The best cancer care guides are also translated into Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Tagalog and Vietnamese.

Feedback on the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program

Feedback on the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
An independent review of the National Bowel Cancer Screening program (NBCSP), involving a broad consultation process,  is underway to seek views and input from all sectors of the Australian community. Primary health care professionals are invited to share experiences

The review is expected to report on all aspects that drive NBCSP performance and efficiency with a strong emphasis on increasing participation. Key findings and recommendations from the review will be provided to the Minister for Health, and are expected to inform the future strategic direction of the program.

Any queries about the consultation can be directed to nbcspreview@health.gov.au

 Palliative and Supportive Care Education - Advance Care Planning conversations

Goals of patient care plans, developed though a shared decision making process to establish the most medically appropriate, realistic, and agreed goals of patient care - can be loaded onto the My Heath Record platform via the "Advance Care Planning' link. GPs are likely to see copies of their patient’s Goals of Care conversations on My Health Record, and is often thought to be ideal starting point to start Advance Care Planning (ACP). Advanced Care Planning, Goals of Patient Care plans and end of life discussions are often viewed as the conversations you want to get 'just right'.

In response to an increasing demand for communication skills education, PaSCE have developed these scenario based training videos. For more information on the upload of GoC clinical documents to My Health Record please email any queries to GoalsofCareMHRproject@health.wa.gov.au

APNA workforce survey is now open

The 2020 APNA Workforce Survey is now open to all nurses working in general practice, aged care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and all other non-hospital community settings. The survey findings on current work conditions and professional concerns, will be collated by the Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association to advise the government on its 10-year reform agenda for primary health care.

Every nurse who completes the survey has the chance to win a voucher.

Food Sensations® for Adults – a free nutrition education and cooking program

Food Sensations for Adults is a four-week program, aiming to help your patients learn about healthy eating, improve their cooking skills, lose weight, or manage a chronic disease through diet. This education, delivered by Foodbank WA’s university-qualified nutritionists and dietitians, will cover a range of nutrition topics such as label reading and budgeting. Each session includes cooking and eating from Foodbank WA’s recipes.

If you think this program could benefit your patients and would like  more information call Fran on 9463 3211. Food Sensations for Adults is funded by the WA Department of Health.