Recommendations
Chapter 2
Recommendation 1
2.54 The
Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government establish a Centre for
Gynaecological Cancers within the auspices of Cancer Australia. The Centre will
have responsibility for giving national focus to gynaecological cancer issues
and improving coordination of existing health, medical and support services and
community projects.
Recommendation 2
2.55 The
Committee recommends, as a matter of priority, that the Centre for
Gynaecological Cancers develops a website that is a 'one-stop shop' for
reliable information on all issues relating to gynaecological cancers,
including education, research and availability of services. The website of the
National Institutes of Health in the United States is an example of a
successful website upon which to base an Australian equivalent.
2.56 In
all aspects of its work, the Centre should make optimal use of communications
and information technology, including the Internet, to bring people together to
discuss issues.
Recommendation 3
2.57 The
Committee recommends that a working group be formed, with the support of Cancer
Australia, consisting of individuals with experience and expertise in
gynaecological cancers to best develop the roles, responsibilities and
priorities of the Centre for Gynaecological Cancers.
Recommendation 4
2.58 The
Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government provide the Centre for
Gynaecological Cancers with seed-funding of $1 million for establishment
and operational costs.
Recommendation 5
2.59 The
Committee recommends that a national secretariat be formed within Cancer Australia
to define the Centre for Gynaecological Cancers' ongoing objectives and to
evaluate the success of the Centre after two years.
2.60 The
Committee further recommends that the Centre and its national secretariat work
closely with Cancer Australia and its advisory groups, particularly the
Gynaecological Cancer Advisory Group, and the National Breast Cancer Centre to
ensure a cohesive approach to improving gynaecological cancer care in
Australia.
Chapter 3
Recommendation 6
3.108 The
Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government commit further recurrent
funding for:
- basic
research and clinical trials on topics relating to gynaecological cancers; and
- academic
research positions in areas relating to gynaecological cancers.
Recommendation 7
3.109 The
Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government in collaboration with
Cancer Australia:
- review the
current level of funding allocated to bodies and individuals undertaking
gynaecological cancer research in Australia; and
- provide
leadership in relation to the allocation of research funding for gynaecological
cancers; and
- improve
awareness within the research community about the work being undertaken in
order to minimise duplication.
Chapter 4
Recommendation 8
4.183 The
Committee recommends that Cancer Australia work with the gynaecological cancer
sector on an ongoing basis to develop national strategies improving the
visibility of, and access to, screening, treatment and support services for
women with gynaecological cancers.
Recommendation 9
4.184 The
Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government's funding and leadership
of the National Cervical Screening Program continue and that strategies be
implemented to improve screening participation rates for Australian women,
particularly for Indigenous women.
4.185 The
Committee further recommends that the Commonwealth work collaboratively with
State and Territory Governments to promote the National Cervical Screening
Program for all Australian women.
4.186 The
Committee further recommends that the Commonwealth Government explore the
extension of Medicare rebates for Pap tests performed by nurse practitioners,
regional nurses and Indigenous health workers who are suitably trained.
Recommendation 10
4.187 The
Committee recommends that, as a priority, State and Territory Governments
provide further funding so that all women being treated for gynaecological
cancers have access, based on need, to clinical psychologists or psychosexual
counsellors.
Recommendation 11
4.188 The
Committee recommends that Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments work
collaboratively to ensure adequate funding for health and support programs in
rural and remote areas, such as increased funding for specialist outreach
clinics and for the use of modern telecommunications technologies.
Recommendation 12
4.189 The
Committee recommends that the Council of Australian Governments, as a matter of
urgency, improve the current patient travel assistance arrangements in order
to:
- establish
equity and standardisation of benefits;
- ensure
portability of benefits across jurisdictions; and
- increase the
level benefits to better reflect the real costs of travel and accommodation.
Recommendation 13
4.190 The
Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government consider a Medicare Item
Number for lymphoedema treatment by accredited physiotherapists and the
provision of subsidised lymphoedema compression garments, based on need, for
women as a result of cancer treatment.
Recommendation 14
4.191 The
Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government through the Medical
Services Advisory Council (MSAC), review the MSAC's decisions on the use of
liquid-based cytology (LBC) and high risk human papilloma virus (HPV) DNA
testing in cervical screening processes.
Recommendation 15
4.192 The
Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, as
a priority, develop national strategies surrounding HPV vaccines and testing.
Specifically, targeted and customised strategies to:
- highlight
the benefits of HPV vaccines;
- provide easy
access to the vaccines and appropriate educational resources, particularly for
Indigenous Australians and people from culturally and linguistically diverse
backgrounds; and
- develop and
encourage the use of self-testing for high risk HPV
Recommendation 16
4.193 The
Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government, in collaboration with
Cancer Australia and the Centre for Gynaecological Cancers, develop strategies
and targets to improve referral rates from general practitioners to
gynaecological oncologists for women with ovarian cancer.
Recommendation 17
4.194 The
Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government, as a priority, assume
responsibility for the funding, development and implementation of a national
data collection and management system to ensure the appropriate and accurate
collection of gynaecological cancer data.
Recommendation 18
4.195 The
Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government in conjunction with the
State and Territory Governments to expand the roles and responsibilities of
specialist breast cancer nurses to include gynaecological cancers through
cooperation with multidisciplinary gynaecological cancer centres.
Recommendation 19
4.196 The
Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Government explore the need for
Medicare rebates for MRI scans of pelvic, abdominal and breast areas.
Recommendation 20
4.197 The
Committee recommends that Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments commit
urgently needed funding and increased specialist resources to reduce current
waiting times for women seeking the services of gynaecological oncologists and
their multidisciplinary teams.
4.198 The
Committee further recommends that maximum surgery waiting times are defined by
key performance indicators agreed by treating physicians as not putting
patients at risk.
Chapter 5
Recommendation 21
5.103 The
Committee recommends that an urgent review of the adequacy and provision of
information to medical and allied health professionals about gynaecological
cancers be undertaken by the Centre for Gynaecological Cancers.
5.104 The
Committee further recommends that the gynaecological oncology medical and
allied health communities, through the Centre for Gynaecological Cancers, have
greater input into decisions about education strategies for professionals,
women and adolescents.
Recommendation 22
5.105 The
Committee recommends that the Centre for Gynaecological Cancers, with
assistance from the gynaecological cancer community, develop culturally appropriate
educational material focusing on the risk factors and symptoms of
gynaecological cancers. Any such material should specifically meet the needs of
general practitioners, nurses (including remote area nurses), Aboriginal health
workers, gynaecologists and allied health professionals
5.106 The
Committee further recommends that educational materials be provided to general
practitioners to inform them about the sub-specialty of gynaecological oncology
and the circumstances in which it is appropriate to refer women to
gynaecological oncologists.
Recommendation 23
5.107 The
Committee recommends that Cancer Australia formally investigate the referral
patterns of general practitioners at a national level and devise appropriate
strategies to address any concerning trends.
5.108 The
Committee further recommends that accurate and accessible service directories
should be developed in all jurisdictions to support knowledge-based appropriate
referrals.
Recommendation 24
5.109 The
Committee recommends the development and distribution of clinical practice
guidelines for all gynaecological cancers (or similar consistent and
authoritative information) to ensure standard practice across the healthcare
system.
5.110 The
Committee further recommends that the Australian Divisions of General Practice
include gynaecological cancer issues in at least one professional development
seminar per year.
Recommendation 25
5.111 The
Committee recommends that all gynaecologists involved in treating
gynaecological cancers associate themselves with a recognised multidisciplinary
specialist gynaecological cancer unit.
Recommendation 26
5.112 The
Committee recommends that appropriate educational opportunities be offered to
medical and allied health professionals from all settings to increase skills in
gynaecological oncology. Appropriate financial incentives or assistance
packages should be offered, and given where required.
Recommendation 27
5.113 The
Committee recommends that doctors who are training to be general practitioners
be exposed to the concept of multidisciplinary care and the sub-specialty of
gynaecological oncology in their training.
5.114 The
Committee further recommends that medical professionals receive instruction and
experience, where relevant, in diagnosing malignant gynaecological cancers
through educational programs.
Chapter 6
Recommendation 28
6.105 The
Committee recommends that Cancer Australia, in conjunction with the Centre for
Gynaecological Cancers, be given wide-ranging responsibility for the management
of coordinated national education strategies targeting women and their
families, friends, carers and the broader community about gynaecological
cancers.
6.106 The
Committee further recommends that a review of all existing gynaecological
cancer educational material targeting women and the broader community be
undertaken by Cancer Australia, in conjunction with a Centre for Gynaecological
Cancers, to review the currency of the content and the appropriateness for the
audience.
Recommendation 29
6.107 The
Committee recommends that Cancer Australia and the Centre for Gynaecological
Cancers work together to develop a resource pack be developed and disseminated
to give women and the broader community consolidated and consistent information
about gynaecological cancers, treatment options, support groups and other
services.
Recommendation 30
6.108 The
Committee recommends that Cancer Australia and the Centre for Gynaecological
Cancers work together to ensure that medical facilities and support
organisations have visible and current information on-site in the form of
posters and pamphlets about gynaecological cancers and related services.
Recommendation 31
6.109 The
Committee recommends that Cancer Australia analyse and assess the approach
taken in the United States in the following areas:
- public
education (for example, the strategies of the Centres for Disease Control in
relation to ovarian cancer);
- advocacy by
gynaecological cancer groups; and
- service
provision by support groups.
Chapter 7
Recommendation 32
7.88 The
Committee recommends that Cancer Australia collaborate with individuals and
groups to identify the best ways to ensure that expertise and experience in
gynaecological cancer is represented on national health agencies, particularly
Cancer Australia.
7.89 The
Committee further recommends that consumer and community representatives have
greater involvement in the decision-making of national health agencies.
7.90 The
Committee further recommends that when membership of Cancer Australia's
Advisory Council is due for review, one or more consumer representatives from
the reproductive cancer sector be appointed to maintain the confidence of
groups within those areas.
Recommendation 33
7.91 The
Committee recommends that the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, Cancer
Australia and the Centre for Gynaecological Cancers communicate with each
other about the content of future work plans in order to avoid confusion over
responsibility for the development of initiatives and program delivery.
Recommendation 34
7.92 The
Committee recommends that the Centre for Gynaecological Cancers put
arrangements in place to ensure continuity between the work of the now defunct
National Cancer Control Initiative and Cancer Australia, particularly in
relation to gynaecological cancers.
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