Transforming care – Echuca Cancer and Wellness Centre 18 months on

Jenny Railton, a chemotherapy and cancer support nurse, has seen benefits for both patients and staff.

‘We are now able to work alongside our visiting consultants in haematology, medical oncology, radiation oncology and renal services through the co-located consulting rooms. Our oncology nurse practitioner can work with them in this space as well alongside our chemotherapy team. This is invaluable in providing comprehensive care to our patients,’ Jenny says. ‘Our cancer care coordinators (cancer support nurse, McGrath breast care and prostate cancer nurse) are located close to our wellness and acute treatment areas.’

‘We have been able to facilitate extra days of treatment for our dialysis patients and increase the number of medical day and chemotherapy treatments, something which would not have been achievable in our previous environment.’

The centre now offers several wellness programs and allied health services in the one location. These include dietetics, exercise physiology, lymphoedema management, yoga, mindfulness, social work group therapy, cooking sessions and oncology massage.

The centre’s design provides a calm and welcoming environment for patients and families.

The modern floorplan provides flexible spaces. This means patients and their families can meet clinical teams - and other support workers - with greater privacy.

Tailored wellness programs focus on physical and emotional health and wellbeing during treatment and recovery.

‘Our cancer and wellness centre is a beautiful space to work in,’ Jenny says, ‘and patients have told us they value the new space as well.’

For Julianne, the new centre has resulted in feeling part of a community.

‘I cannot say enough good things about the staff,’ she says. ‘From the receptionists, who very quickly remember your name, to the oncologist, oncology nurse practitioner, McGrath breast care nurse, nurses and wellbeing staff. Everyone has my best interests at heart and shows care and consideration with every visit including a smile and a hello, remembering my name, and supporting me positively on this journey. It is wonderful to have all these services in the one building so that it has become like my own cancer and wellbeing community.’

Jenny believes the benefits to the community and to staff have been extensive.

‘Renal patients have been able to receive local treatment instead of traveling to Melbourne, Shepparton, Bendigo and elsewhere’, she says. ‘Some are able to see their physician in the same space.’

For chemotherapy and medical day treatment therapy patients, the benefits have been similar. The increased number of chair spaces has enabled more patients to receive local treatment and engage in wellness services.

The new building has also brought advantages for the staff. ‘Staff are working closely together in a beautiful and cohesive unit’, says Jenny. ‘We are very excited to have a dedicated staff room to gather and consolidate our working relationships.’