News

Greenslopes Private Hospital helps patients navigate cancer care

Jun 30, 2020

Greenslopes Private Hospital has launched a new Cancer Care Navigation service, with patients praising the team for their compassion and support during their treatment.

The program provides newly diagnosed cancer patients with a ‘navigator’ who guides them through their cancer treatment - from initial diagnosis right through to post treatment and into survivorship.

Chief Executive Officer at Greenslopes Private Hospital, Chris Went, said the program was an excellent way to link cancer services and help patients navigate their way through treatment.

“Being such a large facility, sometimes patients can get lost in the system and are unsure who to ask, who to contact, or they may forget post-surgery what the next step is. This program allows them to seek some clarity around things,” Ms Went said.

“It gives them the knowledge and information they need to take control in their care and the ability to know who to ask if they need assistance.”

Ramsay Service Line Director for Cancer Care, Sue Sinclair, said the program aimed to offer patients supportive and personalised care.

“When a patient is first diagnosed with cancer, undergoes urgent surgery or is starting systemic anti-cancer treatment, they have dozens of questions about the path ahead. But we know many of them don’t think their questions are important enough to ask their specialists,” Ms Sinclair said.

“They might see the surgeons or nurses in the ward and not want to bother them with questions such as ‘when will I be able to see my grandkids?’, or ‘should I be exercising while having chemotherapy?’, but these are the questions that weigh on their minds.

“The navigators can answer those questions. They are specialist nurses who have extensive experience in cancer care and are able to guide patients through the complex and daunting path ahead.”

Melissa Taylor said she was incredibly grateful for her navigator when her husband Mark was undergoing treatment.

“After Mark’s initial diagnosis, it was just like the blind leading the blind. We would come home and try to piece all the information together but it was over the next few days that we’d have all these questions coming up,” Mrs Taylor said.

“When we met with our navigator, Katrina, it was just so wonderful because she could piece the puzzle together for us. She was just what we needed at that point in time.”

Greenslopes’ Cancer Care Navigator Katrina McAndrew, who has more than a decade’s experience in cancer care nursing, said she absolutely loves her new role.

“When a patient is given a cancer diagnosis, life as they know it is completely turned upside down and our goal is to simplify the process for them to ensure they’re getting the best possible care,” Ms McAndrew said.

“I love that the role allows patients not to feel rushed during discussions which allows us to get to know one another better and I think this makes the patient feel like themselves and not simply a diagnosis.

“In life, I believe the smallest gesture can have the biggest impact, and it’s a philosophy I’m trying to integrate into this role.”

Cancer Care Navigators aim to provide a holistic approach to each patient and can guide them towards other services that may help; including dietitians, exercise physiologists, counselling services, GPs and Cancer Council support and information.

Ms McAndrew said the Cancer Care Navigation program made her proud to work for Ramsay Health Care.

“I think this is a wonderful initiative and it shows the constant drive for best practice within the organisation that patients really do come first,” Ms McAndrew said.

“As Paul Ramsay envisaged, the heart of the organisation really is people caring for people and this personalised one-on-one care allows us to demonstrate that further.”

For more information on Cancer Care Navigators contact your local Ramsay Health Care provider.