Agreement reached for paediatric oncology services at Capital & Coast

With the assistance of the National Health Board, Capital & Coast and Canterbury District Health Boards have reached an agreement, which means Wellington paediatric oncology patients can receive most of their treatment in Wellington, reducing their need to travel.

Executive Director (Clinical) of Cancer, Medicine and Community services for Capital & Coast DHB, Dr Andrew Simpson, said that after working with local families over the past few months, the DHB was committed to retaining as many services as possible in Wellington.

"We understand the burden that travel for treatment can cause for patients and their families - at what is a very stressful time. We expect this agreement will not only reduce the need to travel for many families, but it will also mean that patients will have access to the best care available, in the best place," Dr Simpson said.

"Patients will receive as many services as possible close to their home, while also benefiting from the expertise of the Christchurch specialist paediatric oncology clinical team, as well as our whole Wellington paediatric team."

Children and families will still need to travel to Christchurch for some diagnostic services and treatment planning and intensive inpatient chemotherapy. A Paediatric Oncologist from Canterbury will be on site in Wellington full time until Christmas and will hold weekly visiting clinics after that. Meanwhile, Wellington will continue to have its own full time Paediatrician who has a special interest in Paediatric Oncology.

Canterbury DHB's Chief Medical Officer Dr Nigel Millar welcomes the new arrangement.  "The shared care agreement is an improvement for children, families and staff. It will give certainty over access to this vital service and enables patients from the Wellington region to get the care they need in the right setting."

"With the support of the Canterbury District Health Board, we have recently made several staff appointments in Christchurch including a fourth Consultant Paediatric Oncologist, an Oncology Fellow,a trainee Nurse practitioner and a full time liasion nursing role. This will allow us to meet the specialist cancer needs of children within Wellington and across the South Island," Dr Millar said.

The contract for the current Paediatric Oncologist based in Wellington, Dr Sarah Strandjord, comes to an end on 15 October and implementation of the new model will take place from that date.

Media Contacts:

Capital & Coast DHB

Raylene Bateman

04 806 2279 or 027 55 88 886.

Canterbury DHB

Michele Hider

03 364 4103 or 0275 314 796