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Home-based cancer care in the Barwon South West region

Barwon South Western

Building on the success of the home-based cancer care feasibility study at Colac Area Health, BSWRICS, in partnership with the Barwon South West Health Service Partnership, agreed to support the scoping and establishment of cancer care at home, or closer to home, models of care at Western District Health Service and Great Ocean Road Health.

This project aims to expand upon existing, integrated, home-based cancer service models of care throughout the Barwon South West region, and to deliver localised services in support of Better at Home principles of improving access to care at, or closer to home, for those people experiencing cancer.

Impacts

Great Ocean Road Health received Better at Home funding for 2022–23 to commence the implementation of the following day infusion services:

  • iron blood and intravenous immune globulin infusions
  • port access and bloods
  • peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line dressings
  • Baxter pump removal.

Phase 2 will include expanding services to include immunotherapy, chemotherapy and oncology at home.

Western District Health Service successfully established a cancer at home service in October 2022. Identified benefits for patients receiving cancer care at home included:

  • being closer to family and support networks, and keeping families connected
  • increased privacy
  • less time spent waiting for appointments and discharge
  • reduced costs associated with travel
  • offering greater choice
  • reduced risk of exposure to infection
  • decreased burden on families and carers.

Alongside benefits to those affected by cancer, the nursing team delivering at-home care felt the pilot provided greater accessibility and knowledge of patients’ circumstances, enabling a more holistic model of care.

Following the success of the Phase 1 Feasibility Project at Colac Area Health in 2021, BSWRICS has committed to funding a clinical expert resource to potentially support Phase 2, which includes the pilot and implementation of the home-based model of care. BSWRICS will provide support with governance and project management.

For more information on this work please contact the BSWRICS team.

Contact BSWRICS