Life-saving cancer trials at risk under Royal Hobart Hospital cuts
‘We assume it means experimenting but it’s so much more than that:’ Tasmanian nurses are sounding the alarm on a cancer clinical unit restructure.
Tasmania
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Tasmanians with rare and advanced cancers are at risk of losing what can be the last option for treatment as nurses raise the alarm about a restructure that could see a clinical trial unit lose more than 50 per cent of its staff.
ANMF Tasmanian Branch Secretary Emily Shepherd said the cuts will endanger patient safety, jeopardise current and future cancer trials and significantly reduce the capacity to deliver life-extending treatments to Tasmanians.
Registered nurse and vice president of ANMF Monica Werner said the restructure would impact on nurse workloads, other cancer areas and patient outcomes.
Ms Werner said clinical nurses are highly skilled and there are strict criteria for patients to remain on clinical trials.
“It puts trials at risk,” Ms Werner said.
“If we don’t have that specialised workforce completing the duties for clinical trials the nurses that will be copping that workload have got enough on their plates.”
She said nurses were feeling uncertain about the future as there has been little information provided, particularly relating to timelines.
AMA vice president Meg Creely said clinical trials were a critical way for patients to access treatment, particularly those with rare and advanced cancers and cases where standard therapy isn’t an option, or hasn’t been effective.
“We assume it means experimenting but it’s so much more than that.
“It’s offering a chance at treatment.
“There won’t be any option in Tasmania for those treatments that are only offered through a clinical trial.” Dr Creely said.
Dr Creely said the unit had needed annual funding to remain viable since 2009 and she believed the restructure was because of budgeting issues.
She was calling on the unit to continue to be funded, and for parties to develop a sustainable financial way forward for the unit.
Dr Creely said the decision may turn healthcare workers who are interested in medical research and developments away from Tasmania.
“Research and advancement in cancer has come so far, we don’t want to be seen as a state that doesn’t embrace that.”
The unit was established between 1992 and 1995 and had cross discipline trials running out of one unit until it became a dedicated cancer trial unit.
Ms Shepherd said the reduced service that could come with a 58 per cent reduction in staff was a devastating blow for the Tasmanian community and those affected by cancer.
“There are some Tasmanians that will not be able to access clinical trials with such a significant reduction in service.
“Clinical trials are a really important part of the program to treat Tasmanians in our state that are affected by cancer,” she said.
A Department of Health spokesman said the department “acknowledges and respects the vital role all our staff play in delivering compassionate, high-quality care to the Tasmanian community,”
He said the department remained “committed to working constructively with employees to address their concerns and ensure any workforce changes are managed responsibly, with patient care and staff wellbeing as priorities”.
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Originally published as Life-saving cancer trials at risk under Royal Hobart Hospital cuts
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