❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice regarding the planning and demand for oncology services in Western Australia, including projections for bed numbers, medical staff, and budgets over the next ten years, with specific reference to children's cancer treatment.
AnsweredQoN 503Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
My question refers to the planning for oncology services in Western Australia, and I ask: (a) has any research or modelling on demand for oncology services in Western Australia been undertaken in the past and, if so, when and what was this research and modelling; (b) over the next ten years, by region, what is the projected demand for cancer treatment services, and the number of and budget for: (i) beds needed for cancer treatment services; and (ii) medical staff (by specialty) needed for treatment of cancer services; (c) over the next ten years, by region, what is the planned number of and budget for: (i) beds needed for cancer treatment services; and (ii) medical staff (by specialty) needed for treatment of cancer services; (d) what are the current numbers of medical staff (by specialty) employed in the treatment of cancer in the Western Australia Public Health Service; and (e) for questions (a) to (d), will the Minister please also answer with specific reference to the treatment of children’s cancer?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 August 2013
Responded by
Minister for Health
Response time
50 days
(a) Yes. The following documents provide information on current service provision; evidence based best practice and includes reference material on available research.
- The WA Cancer Registry collects information about cancer diagnoses across the state which assists in planning services.
- The WA Health Clinical Service Framework (CSF) 2010-2020 is utilised for strategic state-wide planning.
- The WA Country Health Service in 2011 produced the "Rural Cancer Service Planning Process report' focussing on the planning of four WACHS regions.
- WA Cancer Plan 2012-2017.
(b) Budgets for cancer services are part of the Area Health Service (AHS) budget and not identified. Specific expenditure for each of the multiple locations where cancer services are delivered is not captured by disease. The budget covers all diseases that use that specific service.
(i) The Clinical Service Framework (CSF) 2010-2020 states the level of service needed for cancer treatments. The bed numbers are currently part of the CSF review and will be available once the CSF is finalised in December 2013. There will be cancer surgery and chemotherapy in the new Fiona Stanley and the new Midland Hospitals. Radiation therapy will also be available at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Projected demand* for cancer services by region of residence is shown in the table below:
Region of
Residence
2011/12
2016/17
2021/22
South Metro
22,900
25,100
31,900
North Metro
21,300
26,600
32,700
Kimberley
1,000
1,400
1,900
South West
4,500
5,100
6,400
Pilbara
700
800
1,100
Wheatbelt
2,100
2,600
3,200
Midwest
2,100
2,500
3,000
Goldfields
1,600
2,100
2,600
Great Southern
2,600
2,900
3,600
TOTAL
58,800
69,100
86,400
NOTES:
1. *The number of inpatient separations from public hospitals and from public patients in private hospitals.
2. Demand projections at service level are available for inpatients only.
3. Demand projections are based on service related groups rather than disease categories, for example demand is projected for "Breast Surgery". Demand projections for cancer services have been estimated based on the proportion of each service related group that in current data has a major diagnosis of cancer.
4. Inpatient activity demand has been projected to 2021/22. Projections are currently being updated to 2026/27.
(ii) The Barton report identified workforce needs for Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology and Haematology and WA Health is working towards these recommendations as new facilities to accommodate their services come on line.
The medical staff required to treat cancer are a wide variety of surgeons and medical specialists that depends on the type of cancer. These specialists work with a variety of diseases not just cancer and they often work between the public and private sectors which enables patients in WA to access quality cancer services in the sector of their choice.
(c) The CSF is regularly reviewed and revised and once approved informs budget planning and resource allocation.
Clinical services for country cancer patients are supported on a geographical basis by a small number of visiting oncology specialists from tertiary hospitals or by visiting private consultants or surgeons. Albany and Bunbury have local medical staff that are able to do this.
(i) As above.
(ii) Staffing is increased relative to the increased activity.
(d) The following information was collected by profession in 2012. The data is not by sector as some public services are provided by private providers and the medical specialists often work in both sectors.
Clinical staffing profile for the Public &
Private Health Services in 2012
Staff number
(FTE)
Medical Oncologist
28
Radiation Oncologist
19
Palliative Care Specialist
30.1
Haematologists
25
Chemotherapy Nurse
40.8
Radiation Oncology Nurse
16
Cancer Nurse Coordinator
22.8
Radiation Therapist
144
Radiation Oncologist Medical Physicist
24
(e) There has been minimal change in the staffing of Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) Oncology/Haematology Services over the last 5 years. One additional Paediatric Oncologist has been approved for 2013/14. Six medical oncologists provide paediatric services at PMH. Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Radiation Oncology department provides radiotherapy for paediatric cancers in Western Australia. Paediatric Oncology is provided through PMH for the whole state as there are no Paediatric Oncologists/Haematologists anywhere else in the state.
Projected demand* for cancer services for persons <15 by region of residence is shown in the table below:
Region of Residence
2016/17
2021/22
South Metro
700
900
North Metro
1,000
1,200
Kimberley
100
100
South West
200
200
Pilbara
100
100
Wheatbelt
<50
100
Midwest
100
100
Goldfields
<50
<50
Great Southern
<50
<50
TOTAL
2,200
2,700
NOTES:
1. *The number of inpatient separations from public hospitals and from public patients in private hospitals.
2. Demand projections at service level are available for inpatients only.
3. Demand projections are based on service related groups rather than disease categories, for example demand is projected for "Breast Surgery". Demand projections for cancer services have been estimated based on the proportion of each service related group that in current data has a major diagnosis of cancer.
4. Inpatient activity demand has been projected to 2021/22. Projections are currently being updated to 2026/27.
- The WA Cancer Registry collects information about cancer diagnoses across the state which assists in planning services.
- The WA Health Clinical Service Framework (CSF) 2010-2020 is utilised for strategic state-wide planning.
- The WA Country Health Service in 2011 produced the "Rural Cancer Service Planning Process report' focussing on the planning of four WACHS regions.
- WA Cancer Plan 2012-2017.
(b) Budgets for cancer services are part of the Area Health Service (AHS) budget and not identified. Specific expenditure for each of the multiple locations where cancer services are delivered is not captured by disease. The budget covers all diseases that use that specific service.
(i) The Clinical Service Framework (CSF) 2010-2020 states the level of service needed for cancer treatments. The bed numbers are currently part of the CSF review and will be available once the CSF is finalised in December 2013. There will be cancer surgery and chemotherapy in the new Fiona Stanley and the new Midland Hospitals. Radiation therapy will also be available at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
Projected demand* for cancer services by region of residence is shown in the table below:
Region of
Residence
2011/12
2016/17
2021/22
South Metro
22,900
25,100
31,900
North Metro
21,300
26,600
32,700
Kimberley
1,000
1,400
1,900
South West
4,500
5,100
6,400
Pilbara
700
800
1,100
Wheatbelt
2,100
2,600
3,200
Midwest
2,100
2,500
3,000
Goldfields
1,600
2,100
2,600
Great Southern
2,600
2,900
3,600
TOTAL
58,800
69,100
86,400
NOTES:
1. *The number of inpatient separations from public hospitals and from public patients in private hospitals.
2. Demand projections at service level are available for inpatients only.
3. Demand projections are based on service related groups rather than disease categories, for example demand is projected for "Breast Surgery". Demand projections for cancer services have been estimated based on the proportion of each service related group that in current data has a major diagnosis of cancer.
4. Inpatient activity demand has been projected to 2021/22. Projections are currently being updated to 2026/27.
(ii) The Barton report identified workforce needs for Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology and Haematology and WA Health is working towards these recommendations as new facilities to accommodate their services come on line.
The medical staff required to treat cancer are a wide variety of surgeons and medical specialists that depends on the type of cancer. These specialists work with a variety of diseases not just cancer and they often work between the public and private sectors which enables patients in WA to access quality cancer services in the sector of their choice.
(c) The CSF is regularly reviewed and revised and once approved informs budget planning and resource allocation.
Clinical services for country cancer patients are supported on a geographical basis by a small number of visiting oncology specialists from tertiary hospitals or by visiting private consultants or surgeons. Albany and Bunbury have local medical staff that are able to do this.
(i) As above.
(ii) Staffing is increased relative to the increased activity.
(d) The following information was collected by profession in 2012. The data is not by sector as some public services are provided by private providers and the medical specialists often work in both sectors.
Clinical staffing profile for the Public &
Private Health Services in 2012
Staff number
(FTE)
Medical Oncologist
28
Radiation Oncologist
19
Palliative Care Specialist
30.1
Haematologists
25
Chemotherapy Nurse
40.8
Radiation Oncology Nurse
16
Cancer Nurse Coordinator
22.8
Radiation Therapist
144
Radiation Oncologist Medical Physicist
24
(e) There has been minimal change in the staffing of Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) Oncology/Haematology Services over the last 5 years. One additional Paediatric Oncologist has been approved for 2013/14. Six medical oncologists provide paediatric services at PMH. Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Radiation Oncology department provides radiotherapy for paediatric cancers in Western Australia. Paediatric Oncology is provided through PMH for the whole state as there are no Paediatric Oncologists/Haematologists anywhere else in the state.
Projected demand* for cancer services for persons <15 by region of residence is shown in the table below:
Region of Residence
2016/17
2021/22
South Metro
700
900
North Metro
1,000
1,200
Kimberley
100
100
South West
200
200
Pilbara
100
100
Wheatbelt
<50
100
Midwest
100
100
Goldfields
<50
<50
Great Southern
<50
<50
TOTAL
2,200
2,700
NOTES:
1. *The number of inpatient separations from public hospitals and from public patients in private hospitals.
2. Demand projections at service level are available for inpatients only.
3. Demand projections are based on service related groups rather than disease categories, for example demand is projected for "Breast Surgery". Demand projections for cancer services have been estimated based on the proportion of each service related group that in current data has a major diagnosis of cancer.
4. Inpatient activity demand has been projected to 2021/22. Projections are currently being updated to 2026/27.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.