Cancer Council NT places oncology nurse in Alice Springs Hospital team

The Cancer Council NT has placed an oncology nurse in the Alice Springs Hospital team, with plans to offer community-based nurse counselling.

A new oncology nurse has joined Alice Springs Hospital. Picture Mark Brake

Alice Springs cancer patients will soon be able to access nurse counselling without leaving home for the first time.

The Cancer Council NT has embedded an oncology nurse in the Alice Springs Hospital, the first time the role has been available in Central Australia.

Cancer Council NT chief executive Tanya Izod said nurse Casey Fraser would offer community-based nurse counselling as well as deliver oncology services at the Alice Springs Hospital.

“Casey is a highly experienced oncology nurse and comes to us from the prestigious Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne,” Ms Izod said.

“We are very grateful to have such expertise in our Alice Springs office and we encourage all Alice Springs patients to visit Casey and say hi.”

Casey Fraser joins Alice Springs Hospital as an oncology nurse.

Ms Izod’s decision to make the role available in Alice Springs was made in partnership with the NT government.

The initiative – funded by both the Cancer Council and the government – will enable Ms Fraser to work collaboratively with local medical and community organisations.

Chief and Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the position would “enhance the continuity of care for people living with cancer in Central Australia”.

“Territorians across every region of the NT expect access to high quality health care, and this new position will create more support for patients going through cancer treatment,” Ms Fyles said.

“We will continue working with Cancer Council NT to provide more of these nursing positions across the Territory.”

Ms Fyles previously said 12,000 patients in Central Australia had used the oncology - and cardiac - service since it opened in 2018.

The announcement comes as Ms Fyles travels to Canberra to participate in national cabinet, advocating for the NT’s health workforce.