BCAC will meet the new Minister of Health, Jonathan Coleman, in March 2015 to highlight issues and concerns in the breast cancer community and we need your input to help identify the key priorities.
This is your opportunity to have your voice heard so if you are aware of any issues or problems with the treatment and support of New Zealanders with breast cancer, please let us know so we can inform the Minister and offer workable solutions.
BCAC is hopeful that the newly introduced Standards of Service Provision for Breast Cancer Patients in New Zealand, which provide District Health Boards with a clear benchmark for best practice treatment and care, will help to address many of the issues we have raised with the previous Minister of Health including:
waiting times for breast cancer patients, particularly in rural areas
access to delayed breast reconstruction
access to counselling and psychological support
fertility treatment for young women with cancer
lymphoedema treatment and care.
We will continue to follow up on these issues to ensure patients receive the best possible treatment and care. BCAC repeatedly highlighted the need for better psychological services for breast cancer patients and their families, so we were encouraged to see funding allocated for this in Budget 2014. This will provide for specialist psychological staff and up to 20 cancer support workers who will ensure patients with cancer and their families receive support and counseling when they really need it.
At this next meeting with the Minister, BCAC is planning to discuss:
the need for increased access to innovative medicines
greater access to clinical trials
improved ethical review of clinical trials
implementation of the Breast Cancer Standards.
We urge you to get in touch with us if you have experienced or observed any problems faced by breast cancer patients within in our health system to help us ensure better breast cancer care for all those with the disease in New Zealand.
To contact BCAC please email Celia Motion at celiam@breastcancer.org.nz by 31 January 2015.
