ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021

TABLEOF CONTENT

FACILITY REPORTSLiverpool Cancer Therapy Centre Director’s Report 9

Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre Director’s Report 12

Bankstown Cancer Therapy Centre Director’s Report 16

Southern Highlands Cancer Therapy Report 18

08

FOREWORD

03

SWSLHD CLINICAL CANCER SERVICESHaematology 22

Cancer Genetics 24

Dermatology 26

SWSLHD Palliative Care Services 28

Macarthur / Wingecaribee Palliative Care Service 32

Bankstown Hospital Palliative Care Services 33

Liverpool Hospital Palliative Care Service 34

Braeside Hospital Palliative Care Service 36

Fairfield Hospital Palliative Care Service 37

Bowral Palliative Care Service 38

Community Specialist Palliative Care Nursing 39

Radiation Oncology 40

Medical Oncology – Liverpool 48

Medical Oncology - Macarthur 50

Cancer Information Program 52

20

SWSLHD CANCER - DIRECTOR’S REPORT

04

PATIENT CENTRED CAREClinical Manager’s Report 57

Cancer Wellness Programs 58

ACHIEVEMENTS

RESEARCHClinical Trials 74

Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes, Research & Evaluation 76

Centre for Oncology Education & Research Translation 79

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSOur Volunteers 63

SWSLHD Palliative Care Volunteer Service 64

Our Supporters 68

Our Valued Employees 70

56

81

73

62

SWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021 PAGE 3FOREWORD

FOREWORDThe strong commitment to research and innovation is continuing to shape the outstanding work of South Western Sydney Local Health District’s Cancer Services team.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our staff have pivoted to new models of care and embraced cutting-edge technology to ensure our patients received safe and high-quality care. I thank the team, led by the District’s Cancer Services Director, Professor Geoff Delaney, and Acting Director, Dr Jennifer Wiltshire, for its continued dedication to the care of their patients and their families during a year of unprecedented change and challenges in healthcare.

Cancer Services adopted telehealth early in the pandemic to help keep patients safe from COVID-19, including the introduction of the Agency for Clinical Innovation’s My Virtual Care platform. The new technology ensured our cancer patients could be monitored from the safety of their homes while still receiving the comfort and support of our clinicians. We also trialled new cognitive behaviour therapy for cancer patients experiencing chronic nerve pain using a high-resolution computer-generated environment. The virtual reality approach helped patients to better manage their pain and will help develop new treatments in the future. Other research studies included increasing the representation of patients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in cancer trials, to better reflect our diverse population. Cancer Services’ continued focus on research has established the District’s reputation as an international leader in new cancer treatments and innovation and I commend our staff for their continued focus on improving the health and the lives of their patients.

The capital investment of more than $3 billion into redeveloping our hospitals will bring a new era of cancer care to our community. Main works have started on the $790 million Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct, which will include a new cancer centre featuring inpatient, ambulatory, diagnostic and research facilities. I am excited construction of the expanded Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, part of the $632 million stage Campbelltown Hospital redevelopment, is now complete. The new space will feature an additional Linear Accelerator designed to administer radiation therapy to cancer patients and an Orthovoltage machine to support the treatment of skin cancers. The wonderful new facilities will help us to meet the needs of our growing community and support the objectives of the District’s Cancer Services Strategic Plan 2018 to 2023.

Finally, the efforts of our Cancer Services staff received fantastic recognition this year. For the fifth year, patients rated the Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre as the best public cancer centre in NSW for patient care in the annual Bureau of Health Information Outpatient Cancer Clinic Survey - an outstanding achievement. Centre Director, Associate Professor Stephen Della-Fiorentina, received one of our country’s highest honours when he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday honours. Other honours for our team included Professor Michael Barton OAM receiving the 2020 Distinguished Research Award from UNSW for his contribution to health services research in radiation oncology.

The dedication of our staff is the foundation of the outstanding care we provide to our patients every day. I am incredibly proud of our Cancer Services team and I thank them for their inspirational work and commitment to safe and high-quality care.

MS AMANDA LARKINChief Executive South Western Sydney Local Health District

SWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021 PAGE 4 SWSLHD CANCER - DIRECTOR’S REPORT

SWSLHDCANCER - DIRECTOR’S REPORT

COVID-19 reminded us that getting back to ‘business as usual’ was never going to be the same.

But we leveraged off the lessons learned during 2020, and improved upon our delivery methods. We took some time for a deep dive into what was most important to our service, and more importantly, our patients. We continued our remote models of care where practical, and introduced new telehealth services to clinics to reduce the need for patients to park and wait for short visits, further supporting flexible options for patients and staff, as hot spots and lockdowns became our common language. When lives are disrupted by cancer and pandemics, the importance of human connection is greater than ever. The strength and courage derived from moments of understanding, compassion and kindness, can be harder to achieve with social distancing and telehealth. Staff have risen to the challenge and developed new ways of communicating and supporting patients.

We continued our implementation of the new Patient Reported Outcome tool (PROMPT-Care) to collect high quality clinical information to inform our clinicians in real time, of patient symptoms, side-effects and arising issues, without the need for unnecessary visits to the hospital. Our implementation involved each facility in the district, and focussed on Lung Cancer Patients, who have many complex needs to manage.

SWSLHD Cancer Services employed 411 full time equivalent staff across the year, and spent $57m to deliver cancer care during a challenging year. We published 144 papers, and were awarded $15.6m in grants .

As testament to the dedication of our staff, our activity levels increased from 2019 despite COVID restrictions. This increase was due to our new tele health initiatives implemented over the last 18 months, providing better value care in the outpatient setting, and some expansion of haematology services across the LHD. I am proud to see that nothing slowed down the drive towards excellence, and the publications, awards and presentations at the back of this report also shows the dedication to continuous enquiry and improvements to what we do in SWSLHD Cancer Services.

DR JENNIFER WILTSHSIRE

PROFESSOR GEOFF DELANEY

5 YEAR RESOURCE COMPARISON

SWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021 PAGE 5SWSLHD CANCER - DIRECTOR’S REPORT

PARTNERS AND VOLUNTEERSThe valiant efforts of our fundraising partners throughout difficult times, lockdowns, restrictions on gatherings and financial hardship continues to support specialty items for our patients. The ‘24hr fight against cancer’ great walk was cancelled in 2020, but the community still raised $99,000 during the 2020 campaign.

2020 Dry July-ers, raised $108,000 across the district including additional grants awarded from the campaign. At the SWSLHD Annual Public Meeting, Dry July won our Community Partner’s Award as a result of its consistent generosity. In Bankstown, the centre surveyed patients on how to spend their funds, “We have beautiful artworks on display from Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, a massage therapist visiting the centre and quality tea, coffee and snacks are now available to patients and their families’’

McGrath Foundation continue to generously support nursing in our LHD – their recent Sydney Cricket Ground campaign launch sold more than 150,000 virtual seats raising more than $3 million for the vital work of the foundation .

The ‘Volunteering NSW Macarthur Regional Awards’ were held in September 2020 for the first time by zoom. Our SWS Palliative Care Volunteer– Mary Carey won the Senior Volunteer of the year Award.

OUTPATIENT VISITS

SWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021 PAGE 6

ACCOLADES CONTINUE FOR OUR STAFF AND FACILITIESThe caring nature of staff at Macarthur Cancer Therapy was highlighted for the fifth consecutive year, as the unit was rated “the best public cancer centre in NSW” for patient experience in the annual Bureau of Health Information Outpatient Cancer Clinic Survey. With the redevelopment works nearly complete, this facility will be the gold class of our district. The Director of the service A/Prof Stephen Della-Fiorentina received a Medal of Australia Award for Service to Oncology as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honour’s List.

Diana Ngo and Samantha Beverley, our wonderful Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses, (supported by the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia) are part of the team awarded a Governor General Medallion in recognition of their significant contribution to quality cancer care throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The award coincided with International Nurses Day in May 2021.

CONCERT Director, Scientia Professor Michael Barton OAM and CONCERT members, Dr Vikneswary Batumalai, Dr Tony Pang and Ms Natalie Stunnell have all received awards at this year’s UNSW SWS Precinct Research Awards. Prof Barton received the 2020 Distinguished Research Award for his contribution to health services research in radiation oncology. Michael retires this year, after a long and productive career in Radiation Oncology and Research, he will leave an everlasting legacy, and a large void for us to fill.

Janeane Harlum was elected as President of the Palliative Care Nurses Australia (PCNA) at their AGM in September 2020 for 2 years. “I look forward to this opportunity and continuing to progress promotion of National Palliative Care nursing, education & strategy along with the other board members”.

Breast cancer patients will benefit from a pilot program designed to detect and prevent lymphoedema. The District is one of 13 Health Districts in NSW to be part of the Early Intervention and Prevention of Chronic Lymphoedema program. Chief Executive Amanda Larkin said the pilot will include Lymphoedema Clinics at Campbelltown, Liverpool and Bowral & District Hospitals and a new clinic at Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital. “It will build on the success of our clinics, which have been treating people in the community with a known risk of lymphoedema.’’

The MOSAIQ Support team won a 2020 Quality award in the Excellence in provision of non-clinical services for their project: Modernising Consenting: The Implementation of Signature Pads and Electronic Consent Forms to Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre.

Cancer services submitted a Video, showing our staff in action for the TYE awards.

A Virtual reality study is delivering pain therapy to reduce chronic pain experienced by cancer patients. Nerve pain can be caused by the cancer or the treatment, and is often resistant to standard pain relief. The research team, composed of anaesthetists, pain psychologists, pain specialists, medical oncologists, and computer scientists, designed and created the virtual reality program. Patients use the VR headset to learn new cognitive behavioural therapies in a high resolution computer-generated environment to manage their pain.

The ACRF OASIS centre will be built into the new Liverpool Cancer Centre, and progress has been made on the research that will be conducted in the centre. Some of these projects were presented to the ACRF, who are partially funding the building.


SWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021 PAGE 7

“...THE UNIT WAS RATED “THE BEST PUBLIC CANCER CENTRE IN NSW” FOR PATIENT EXPERIENCE...”


FACILITY REPORTS SWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021

FACILITYREPORTS 20/21

5,368 MULTIDISCIPLINARY

TEAM MEETINGS WERE SCHEDULED

THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, PROVIDING

COLLABORATIVE, CONSIDERED TREATMENT

DECISIONS FOR PATIENTS.


This project involved purposefully extending the renovation to the walls and ceilings of the balcony so that those patients who are bedbound can look upwards to appreciate the ambience. Substantial teamwork was needed to bring this project to fruition and I would like to thank all those involved.

It was wonderful to celebrate our ongoing partnership with the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre presenting the Bravery Unmasked exhibition for the 5th year in 2020. The past five years have seen growth and recognition for Bravery Unmasked, with the exhibition showing a large number of masks made by patients, carers, families and friends. In the context of the COVID19 pandemic, Bravery Unmasked 2020, was a virtual exhibition showcasing a curated selection of masks from the past 5 years.

LCTC implemented a Rapid Treatment Chair in the Chemotherapy Day Centre in 2020 as an initiative aimed at

accommodating treatments of shorter duration. 13 x 30 minute treatments per day can be booked into the Rapid Treatment Chair, resulting in an increase in capacity to accommodate the more complex protocols in other treatment chairs. This practice change has had a positive impact on the department and patients, reducing the overall waiting list for commencing treatment. There has been a concomitant reduction in the number of patients requiring admission for treatment. This innovative improvement aligns with the Transforming Your Experience initiative through consistent delivery of quality, safe and personalised individual care, as positive patient feedback indicates the patients feel that they get to know their nurse better as they have the same nurse for most of the week. Feedback has indicated that patients spend less time in the waiting room and treatment area.

The Liverpool Health and Academic Precinct (LHAP) has involved extensive

ongoing planning through schematic and detailed design phases of development. The engagement and commitment of staff throughout this time-consuming process is commendable, particularly in the context of maintaining a high level of everyday service delivery.

LCTC has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the SWSLHD Transforming Your Experience (TYE) project, through engagement with patients and staff, particularly through the “My Experience Matters (MEM)” platform. We have been recognised as TYE “leaders” within the Hospital and SWSLHD. The MEM feedback has enabled quality care issues to be addressed in “real-time”. Executive rounding has provided collegial recognition of staff that go “above and beyond” in looking after patients and their co-workers.

$40MIL+EXPENDITURE

300 FTE STAFF

As always, there have been many individual and team-related achievements at the Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre (LCTC) over the past 12 months. Particular achievements include the re-development of the external balcony as part of the palliative care ward at Liverpool Hospital.

LIVERPOOL CANCER THERAPY CENTRE

DR EUGENE MOYLANDirector Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre


“THE COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS CLEAR, SUCCINCT AND CLARIFIED BY QUESTIONING”

PATIENT FEEDBACK THROUGH THE MY EXPERIENCE MATTERS SURVEYS:

z 94% Patients reported they were involved in decisions about their care.

z 97% patients thought the staff explained things in a way they could understand.

z 91% felt they had enough information to manage well at home.

z 99% were treated with respect and dignity whilst in the clinic.

z 96% felt the staff worked well together.

z 99% had confidence and trust in the health professionals.

z 99% thought the clinic areas were clean & tidy.

KEY PERFORMANCESSome individual LCTC performances warrant special recognition:

Dr Eng-Siew Koh, has had her conjoint status promoted to Associate Professor at South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine. This recognition of her work is well-deserved. A/Prof Eng-Siew Koh, is a Senior Staff Specialist in Radiation Oncology at Liverpool Hospital, with clinical expertise in brain tumours and haematological

malignancies. She has been the SWSLHD Neuro-oncology Tumour stream leader since 2007. Her two main areas of research focus are neuro-oncology (encompassing clinical trials, advanced imaging techniques and supportive care) and cancer survivorship (addressing optimal models of care and late effects of therapy including neuro-cognitive sequelae and cardiovascular toxicity). She currently holds over $16 million in competitive grant funding via Chief Investigator involvement, including $14.5 million relating to brain cancer research and over $2.1 million in cancer survivorship research. She has co-authored 40 peer-reviewed publications, and holds several national leadership roles in neuro-oncology and is the Chair-Elect of the Cooperative Trials Group for Neuro-Oncology (COGNO) and Chair of the COSA Neuro-oncology Group. She is lead co-investigator for the pivotal multi-site Australian FIG study currently addressing the role of FET-PET imaging in Glioblastoma, the first of its kind internationally.

Dr Victoria Bray was appointed Conjoint Associate Professor at Western Sydney University School of Medicine. She has been a Staff Specialist at Liverpool Hospital since 2012 with clinical interests in lung and head and neck cancers. She was awarded her PhD in 2017 from the University of Sydney investigating cognitive function in patients receiving chemotherapy.

She has numerous publications and grants in cancer survivorship and translational lung cancer research as well as co-supervising PhD students at WSU. She is also a Chief Investigator as part of the Australian Cancer Research Fund OASIS Centre for Optimal Cancer Survivorship grant. In addition, Victoria has been the Network Director of Advanced Training in Medical Oncology since 2019 and is dedicated to improving trainee welfare and ensuring a high standard of training at our network.

Congratulations also goes to Prof Michael Barton on a well-deserved 2020 SWS Distinguished Research Award from UNSW for Michael’s outstanding contribution to the evidence-based benchmarks of population-based cancer service delivery.

423,257 NURSE

CO-ORDINATIONOCCASIONS

“IT’S BEEN REALLY GREAT AND BEYOND WHAT YOU EXPECTED.”


52,563 TREATMENTS

ATTENDANCES

7,203 INPATIENT

CONSULTATIONS

Congratulations also to:

z Ms Gui Xiong and the MOSAIQ support team in winning a 2020 SWSLHD Quality award in Category 9 “Excellence in provision of non-clinical services” for the project on Modernising Consenting: The Implementation of Signature Pads and Electronic Consent Forms to Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre.

z Dr Vikneswary Batumalai who was awarded the 2020 SWS Outstanding Contribution to Research -Early Career Researcher Award, Ingham Institute & SWSLHD and Paper of the Year “Estimating the cost of radiotherapy for 5-year local control and overall survival benefit”.

z Dr Trang Pham and her colleagues who have been awarded a Cancer CAG EMCR grant of $50,000 for the project titled “Targeting cancer heterogeneity with ultra-high field MRI and radiotherapy using machine learning”. The project has also been awarded the Frontiers Technology Clinical Academic Group 2020 Seed Funding Scheme.

z Shivani Kumar has secured a CONCERT Infrastructure Award Scheme Grant of $50,000. This grant will directly support Shivani’s post-doctoral Project titled “Improving patient outcomes with state-of-the-art Magnetic Resonance Imaging”. Through the purchase of an MRI 60 channel body coil (B60).

z Shrikant Deshpande has secured $50k CONCERT funding for the project titled “Development of an in-house framework to build, validate and deploy deep learning models for auto-segmentation of radiotherapy planning outcomes”.

z Congratulations also to our SWSLHD Medical and Radiation Oncology advanced trainees who have presented their research at their respective sub-specialty annual scientific meetings.

As always, many thanks to our sponsors, donors and volunteers that help support the Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre to deliver ongoing high quality health and survivorship care.

WHAT’S NEXTAs an extension of TYE, we have commenced a project to investigate patient desire to receive a copy of their medical correspondence and subsequently develop a mechanism by which this can be achieved. A majority of patients appear keen to receive this information, but a minority have accessed their “MyHealth Record”, indicating that this health information will need to be shared in hard-copy format rather than electronically.

During the COVID19 pandemic, the provision of “telehealth” services has expanded in line with Medicare Benefit Scheme regulations. This mode of service delivery has both advantages and disadvantages, and may ultimately become part of our everyday practice. Developing a process to ensure that quality of care is maintained with telehealth is likely to involve patient care tools such as the Patient Reported Measures (PRMs), where health problems can be identified and addressed as they arise, rather than awaiting the next scheduled clinic appointment.

We will continue engagement with the LHAP planning group and look forward to seeing the LHAP development progressively materialise on site over the next 5 years.

33,292OUTPATIENT MEDICAL

CONSULTATIONS SERVICE


MACARTHUR CANCER THERAPY CENTRE

We led NSW in 3 questions: did you have enough time to discuss health issues with staff? Did they know enough about your medical history? And would you speak highly of the clinic? This sustained excellence in customer service and patient experience over five consecutive surveys is an outstanding achievement and a reflection on all staff at the centre; how they are focused on customer service, working together as a team to help our patients, their families and carers during stressful and challenging times. 38 individual staff members have received nominations from patients as Valued Employees. We received our first ever results below the state average pertaining to parking caused by the redevelopment.

We have continued to manage the COVID-19 global pandemic with a screening station and temperature checks and encouragement of our vulnerable patients to become vaccinated. The vast majority of our staff comply with offers of surveillance screening and both influenza and COVID vaccinations. Even in times of reduced restrictions 22% of all consultations are via telehealth. We have had to suspend our assessment unit due to the need

for social distancing and are not able to offer everyone scalp cooling during these restrictions, but hope to return this service soon.

Our service in 2021 remains at capacity with the population growth occurring in the south west growth corridor. The building expansion of the MCTC incorporating a third linear accelerator and an Orthovoltage machine was completed in Jan 2021. Handover is due soon, following completion of some minor safety improvements. Delays in funding approval and a shortfall of the expected funding means additional clinical services are later than anticipated, but we hope to have all staff in place by the end of 2021.

A small budget has been awarded for clinical haematology services, and will allow for expanded hours of chemotherapy chair usage that will accommodate patients with haematological malignancies to receive chemotherapy closer to home.

The use of the enhanced oncology / haematology ward has not occurred due to the need for it to be used for winter surge beds and a backup ‘hot zone’ ward for COVID positive patients. With the

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR STEPHEN DELLA-FIORENTINA OAM MBBS (Hons), FRACP Director, Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre

expected handover of the 13 level clinical services building in Mar 2022 it is still unknown which clinical services will receive enhancements for additional inpatient beds.

The centre remains a leader within the hospital and the LHD in Safety and Quality particularly in the areas of chemotherapy timeout, radiation safety and patient identification. The centre remains the best performing unit in the hospital for hand hygiene compliance results and medication safety.

Some of our Wellness Programmes have returned but are limited by space during the hospital redevelopment and, more recently, due to social distancing requirements. Some programmes continue to be made available offsite and online.

The MCTC has received a two year grant from the Nelune Foundation for an additional 0.5 FTE clinical psychologist for two years, recommencing a partnership first started 15 years ago. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia has awarded a grant for a prostate cancer care coordinator for two years.

$11.4MIL+EXPENDITURE

The Cancer Institute and the Bureau of Health Information report in December 2020, How Do Outpatient Cancer Clinics Rate, (reported by our patients) rated the Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre as the best public hospital or private cancer centre in NSW for the 5th consecutive survey.


“THE MAJOR EVENTS OF THE 24 HR FIGHT AGAINST CANCER MACARTHUR WERE REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS BUT THEY WERE STILL ABLE TO RAISE $99,000 IN A PANDEMIC YEAR...”

1,189INPATIENT

CONSULTATIONS

214,260 NURSING

ACTIVITIES

63PATIENTS

ENROLLED IN CLINICAL TRIALS


25,933 TREATMENT

ATTENDANCES

The major events of the 24 Hr Fight against Cancer Macarthur were reduced significantly due to COVID-19 restrictions but they were still able to raise $99,000 in a pandemic year, an outstanding achievement showing their reach into the community. We are grateful for the support of Dry July and all of our other donors who support our wig library, patient care and education trust funds.

The inpatient unit provides quality and efficient care, activity increased by 5% in 2020/21. We have participated in a project of discharging patients earlier in the day to create capacity for emergency admissions to get to their specialty ward sooner.

SOCIAL WORK AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY WORKING TOGETHER This year MCTC Social Work and Clinical Psychology collaborated with the Nepean Cancer Care Centre Psycho-Oncology team to revise the medical student teaching program. The teams drew on their clinical and research expertise to construct an up-to-date and uniform Psycho-Oncology tutorial. This has benefitted Western Sydney University students that train in cancer centres across various cancer and Palliative Care settings.

CANTEEN PARENT SOCIAL WORKER SERVICE Parents treated at Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre continued to receive specialist support with the challenges of parenting while undergoing treatment, and supporting their young people. Kelly Blackman has been acting as the Canteen Parent Social Worker since October 2020, and supported 71 referrals across a 9month period, with 35 young people referred

through to Canteen counselling and peer support services in that time. The partnership between MCTC and Canteen continues to provide this additional specialist support to enhance the quality of life of patients and their families, and integrates hospital based and community care in a patient centred way.

ACTIVITYThe Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre saw 4709 different individuals and provided 92670 occasions of service, a 5.5% growth over the previous year. There were 1441 new and 9541 follow-up medical oncology patients; 876 new and 4680 follow-up radiation oncology patients and 318 new and 1050 follow-up haematology patients. There were 8014 chemotherapy occasions of service, a 4% increase over 2019/20. The time to dictation to referring doctors is under the Ministry benchmark of 10 days and 85% of referrals are seen within 2 weeks.

WHERE TO FROM HERE?Our next year will see the commencement of limited clinical haematology services and the use of our two newest radiation machines for 2hr 15min a day due to the limited staff budget received for the service. The additional clinics and chemotherapy demand will require us to open our chemotherapy chairs for extended hours and commence using the 6 clinic rooms in the general outpatients department. A change management plan is underway to make both of these service changes as seamless as possible for our patients and staff. It is pleasing that 2 enhancements will fund additional palliative care, care coordination and allied health - and we will continue to lobby for the remaining funding required to meet our local service demand. Genesis

12,128MEDICAL STAFF

SPECIALIST CONSULTATIONS

67 FTE STAFF


Care has had their development application for a private cancer centre in Campbelltown approved by Campbelltown Council which will provide additional treatment radiation, chemotherapy and clinic facilities. They will be partnering with MCTC on the models of care.

Once the main hospital building is handed over in March 2022 the second phase of MCTC redevelopment will expand the assessment unit and increase chemotherapy chairs to 18 - with a completion date of 2023.

THANK YOUOur staff are our most important and valuable asset with over 35 individuals receiving a nomination from our patients to be considered as a Valued Employee. Their dedication to personalised patient care; commitment to quality improvement and patient safety; innovation and teamwork; research and education clearly demonstrate continued excellence for our communities of Macarthur, Wollondilly and Wingecarribee. I am very proud that this was reflected in the Bureau of Health Information Patient Satisfaction survey; for our patients to rate the care we provide the best in NSW and to sustain that accomplishment for 5 consecutive surveys over 6 years is testament to the outstanding staff we have and their clinical leaders. The importance of the Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre in our community and recognition of the work that we all do led to the greatest honour of my career in being awarded an Order of Australia Medal in Jun 2021. I would sincerely like to thank Denise Burns and Jo Pearson OAM for making me look good. I have truly stood on the shoulders of giants.

1,925 INPATIENT

CONSULTATIONS

“...THE COMMUNICATION IS ALWAYS CLEAR, SUCCINCT AND CLARIFIED BY QUESTIONING....”

404ISSUES WERE

MANAGEDTHROUGH THE

ASSESSMENT UNIT


BANKSTOWN CANCER THERAPY CENTRE

Year 2020-2021 has been a vastly different year for our community, cancer centre and hospital due to the impact of Covid-19. We began July 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

As a consequence we made a number of vital changes to ensure the health and safety of patients and staff. Medical consultations were converted to telehealth, teams were separated, full PPE was worn and physical distancing was observed. As a result we have been able to continue to treat our patients in a timely manner, delivering high quality, evidence based, multidisciplinary care in a compassionate and safe environment.

We were delighted to return to normal services with face to face clinic visits once again and having all staff working as one unified team. Unfortunately with the recent second wave of COVID-19, we have returned to split teams to provide safe care for our patients. I am glad to observe that on this occasion the transition was a much smoother process. I would like to give credit to all the staff at the BCC who implemented the changes efficiently and professionally. We would also like to acknowledge the impact these changes have had on our patients, carers and families. Many of our patients have been receiving treatment without a support person by their side. We have been amazed how understanding our patients have been during these challenging times. I am also pleased to report that almost 100% of our cancer staff have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

ACTIVITY REPORTIn regards to the outpatient clinics, our main concern has always been the impact that COVID-19 could have on patient outcomes. Our concerns related to patients’ ability or lack of desire to present to the cancer centre for review or treatment. However, the number of visits reduced only marginally, from approximately 7,367 (in year 2019-2020) to 6,280 visits in this financial year, a reduction of only 14%. Some of this reduction could simply be explained by rationalisation of the number of visits, especially for low risk cancer survivors on surveillance or patient preferences.

BCC delivered 5,152 total treatments in 2020-2021, an overall increase of 6%. For Medical Oncology, there was a reduction of 15% from the previous year. But haematology were the notable exception, with around a 62% increase in treatments compared to last year. This is indicative of the rapid expansion of this important and essential service for our cancer centre.

During Dry July in 2020, we raised over $18,000. As a guaranteed beneficiary 100% of these funds came back to us. We were able to fund a year of changing artwork for the Cancer Centre (in collaboration with Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre), fortnightly oncology massage, and purchase quality tea, coffee and snacks to provide to patients while receiving treatment. We were invited again by Dry July Foundation to be a guaranteed beneficiary for 2021 .

DR RAY ASGHARIDirector, Bankstown Cancer Therapy Centre

$3.8MIL+EXPENDITURE

26FTE STAFF

6,280OUTPATIENT

CLINICCONSULTATIONS

“I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE CREDIT TO ALL THE STAFF AT THE BCC WHO IMPLEMENTED THE CHANGES EFFICIENTLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.”


TRANSFORMING YOUR EXPERIENCE (TYE)Despite the COVID restrictions we were able to continue the ‘Team of the Quarter’ initiative that we commenced last year. Firstly we would like to congratulate the individuals who received the award for ‘Employee of the Quarter’ during the last 12 months. Those individuals included Dr Ray Asghari (nominated by the administration team), Ms Fida Hajar, admin supervisor (nominated by the medical team), Ms Aileen Wu, pharmacist (nominated by the nursing team) and Dr Sri Jasti (nominated by the allied health team). We were lucky enough to hold a couple of events as part of the initiative – a Kris Kringle lunch hosted by the medical team last Christmas and a Trivia night at the Revesby workers club hosted by the nursing team. The trivia night was a huge success and we are hoping to repeat the evening as part of our Dry July fundraising efforts.

The main challenge for BCC in the next twelve months, in our view, will remain the continuing impact of COVID-19 on our patients and broader community especially in Bankstown- Canterbury LGA.

We also see the limitation of space as an ongoing challenge. This has the potential to impact on the expectation of our community to deliver quality care in a compassionate environment especially in the context of physical distancing due to COVID-19.

I would like to thank all the staff for their hard work, professionalism and dedication to our community during this challenging time and look forward to having a significantly better year ahead

59,000 NURSING

ACTIVITIES

5,152 CHEMOTHERAPY

& DAY ONLY TREATMENTS

925INPATIENT

CONSULTATIONS


The service continues to have strong links with the community GP’s, surgeons and physicians, palliative care services and the public hospital to provide care to the population from Picton to Goulburn.

A Cancer Leadership Committee advocates for enhanced services and local charities such as Can Assist, Rare Cancers Australia and the Southern Highlands Cancer Trust Fund, which provide funds and equipment for patients and their carers. Patients are now able to see a range of specialties and allied health support with medical oncology, radiation oncology, haematology and palliative care specialists providing clinical services. In addition there are clinical care coordinators, social work, lymphoedema, and aged care and gastroenterology services available to patients in the centre.

The impact of COVID-19 remains and 27% of all medical consultations during the 12 months were telehealth consultations. Patient satisfaction was

high and many continued it even after many restrictions were lifted given the convenience for patients and limiting their travel costs.

The centre continues the use of cold caps to minimise hair loss from chemotherapy although pet therapy has been suspended during the COVID-19 period of restrictions.

The Clinical Trial Unit participates in clinical trials in breast, gastrointestinal, kidney and colon cancer. We have recruited well to a national cannabis study on chemotherapy related nausea and is the highest recruiting centre in an immunotherapy study in non-invasive bladder cancer.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORSThe Southern Highlands Cancer Centre in Bowral saw 1375 different individuals up 20% and provided 8263 occasions of service. There were 332 new and 2569

follow-up medical oncology patients; 109 new and 301 follow-up radiation oncology patients and 152 new and 1005 follow-up haematology patients. This is an increase of 25% of new patient visits showing the unmet need in the community for care closer to home and a reversal of flows from Sydney cancer units. There were 3325 chemotherapy occasions of service. This reflects a sustained increase over previous years, with more patients able to access treatment locally, independent of health insurance.

FUTURE PROJECTS/EXPANSION OF SERVICESThe Centre will aim to increase access to clinical trials and work with Bowral Public Hospital Stage 2 Redevelopment to increase clinic and treatment capacity. Student teaching and registrar training in a rural general setting continues.

$429,290 EXPENDITURE

The Southern Highlands Cancer Centre provides a consultative service for medical, radiation oncology and haematology patients and provides chemotherapy for insured and non-insured patients through a private/public partnership between Ramsay Health Care and SWSLHD.

SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS CANCER SERVICES

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR STEPHEN DELLA-FIORENTINA OAM Director Southern Highlands Cancer Services


8PATIENTS ENROLLED IN

CLINICAL TRIALS

3,498 SPECIALIST

CONSULTATIONS

3,393 CHEMOTHERAPY OCCASIONS OF SERVICE

“THE CENTRE WILL AIM TO INCREASE ACCESS TO CLINICAL TRIALS AND WORK WITH BOWRAL PUBLIC HOSPITAL STAGE 2 REDEVELOPMENT TO INCREASE CLINIC AND TREATMENT CAPACITY.”

SWSLHD CLINICAL CANCER SERVICESSWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021

The overall activity increased during

2020, Haematology expanded

their service across the LHD to

provide an additional 21% treatment

activity, Palliative Care outpatient

consultations increased by 20%.

Radiation Oncologists doubled their

telehealth effort, and there was an

overall 7% increase in outpatient

chemotherapy and day centre

treatments.

SWSLHD CLINICAL CANCER SERVICES

9,058 CONSULTATIONS

2,043 TELEHEALTH

634 INPATIENT CONSULTATIONS

31,794 RADIOTHERAPY TREATMENTS

RADIATION ONCOLOGY

PALLIATIVE CARE1,231 CLINIC CONSULTATIONS

389 TELEHEALTH

604 INPATIENT CONSULTATIONS

7537 MEDICAL/NURSING HOME VISITS

5,368PATIENTS DISCUSSED AT MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM MEETINGS

SWSLHD CLINICAL CANCER SERVICES SWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021

23,240 CONSULTATIONS

6,389 TELEHEALTH

3,748 INPATIENT CONSULTATIONS

41,870 CHEMOTHERAPY & NURSING TREATMENT ACTIVITY

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY HAEMATOLOGY20,301 CLINIC CONSULTATIONS

4,947 TELEHEALTH

5,086 INPATIENT CONSULTATIONS

9,138 CHEMO TREATMENTS

944 APHERESIS TREATMENTS

GYNAECOLOGY ONCOLOGY1,368 CONSULTATIONS

209 TELEHEALTH

291 OUTPATIENT PROCEDURES

166,301ONCOLOGY/HAEMATOLOGY OCCASIONS OF SERVICE(OVERALL 6% INCREASE COMPARED TO LAST YEAR)


HIGHLIGHTS z Development of the haematology service at Macarthur

z Development of telehealth services as part of the COVID-19 response and meeting the other challenges of the unfolding epidemic

z Drs Sara Ng and Anvita Verma join our team

OUTPATIENT SERVICES38.5 clinic sessions per week are conducted across SWSLHD:

z Liverpool Hospital 33 sessions per week

z Bankstown Hospital 3 sessions per week

z Campbelltown Hospital 2 session per week expanding to 4 next FY

z Bowral Hospital 5 sessions per month

INPATIENT SERVICEThere are 26 funded beds at Liverpool Hospital Monday to Friday reducing to 22 on weekends. No inpatient haematology service is available at any of the other hospitals of SWSLHD. Pressure on inpatient beds remains significant and commonly above the funded base. Aaron Manson (Haematology Ward NUM) leads a high quality nursing team and performs with distinction the difficult task of coordinating patient flow under persistent high demand. The Ambulatory Haematology Unit remains a very

HAEMATOLOGY

PROF MICHAEL HARVEYSWSLHD Director Haematology

successful model of care. Karl Jobburn (Haematology CNC) and Leah Baker (acting CTC NUM) provide strong and effective leadership for their teams.

Our clinical meetings had moved back to a hybrid model, however with the recent uptake in cases, these have moved back to videoconferencing platforms.

TRANSPLANT PROGRAMThe Transplant Haematologists are Drs Anne-Marie Watson (Director), Lindsay Dunlop, Adam Bryant and Bart Getta. Gai Fairnham (CNC) and Alana Paterson (CNS) provides the all-important senior nursing expertise. The allogeneic stem cell transplant program is supported by an enhancement of $1.9 million p.a. in recurrent funding from NSW Health since 2011. The availability of haploidentical stem cell transplantation since 2019 has increased donor availability, since with small families, the availability of matched siblings has become challenging. Unrelated donor transplantation is still referred out of the LHD to Westmead, RPAH or St Vincent’s Hospital.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS (MDT) AND CLINICSMultidisciplinary teams now run for the following disease groups:

The multidisciplinary team model continues to be a successful model with MDT meetings conducted regularly for all these groups. 1,411 Multidisciplinary Team Meetings were scheduled, to discuss patient pathways.

4,947 TELEHEALTH

20,301 CLINIC

CONSULTATIONS

Activity BCC LCTC MCTC SHCC Total

Inpatients 95 4,991 5,086

Apheresis procedures 892 821

Chemotheraphy 883 7,561 30 554 9,138

Procedures 3 2,9900 1 10 3,001

Clinic visits 2,102 16,359 1,001 839 20,301

Telehealth 403 3,936 375 233 4,947

Total 3,486 36,729 1,407 1,798 43,420

Year Allogeneic Autologous Grand Total

2016 10 34 44

2017 6 34 40

2018 8 32 40

2019 13 34 47

2020 11 36 47

Grand Total 79 323 402


944APHERESIS

TREATMENTS

ADVANCED TRAININGWe are fully recruited to nine advanced trainee positions (eight at Liverpool and one at Bankstown Hospital), covering both the laboratory and clinical services. The quality of applicants remains high. COVID19 has posed challenges in the training. The disruptions in both the FRACP and FRCPA examination processes have proved challenging.

RECRUITMENTWe welcome Drs Sara Ng and Anvita Verma who have joined us as Staff Specialists. Sara Ng will work at Liverpool and Bankstown Hospitals. Anvita Verma will be at Campbelltown and Liverpool Hospitals, as well as taking up the Director of Prevocational Education and Training (DPET) role at Liverpool Hospital. We farewell Dr Renee Eslick who has moved to Canberra Hospital, wish her well in her new position and acknowledge her significant contributions during her time at Liverpool and Bankstown Hospitals.

WHERE TO FROM HERE? z An enhancement of service at Campbelltown Hospital will

allow us to deliver chemotherapy for haematology patients on this campus. Approximately 30% of patients treated at Liverpool Hospital are from the Macarthur area.

1,411 MULTIDISCIPLINARY

TEAM MEETINGS

9,138 CHEMO

TREATMENTS

z We hope to secure permanent funding for an additional 1.0 position from BMT enhancement funding ($1.9 M recurrent funding from 2011).

z We would like to see enhancements in the future directed towards funding staffing the full 30 beds on 5C for seven days per week; 7 day per week ambulatory haematology service as well as extended hours of operation for the Cancer Therapy Centre.

z The development of the department as an academic unit is an important long-term goal.

MDT/Clinics Clinical Lead

MDT/Clinics Clinical Lead

Leukaemias Bart Getta

Blood & marrow transplantation Anne-Marie Watson

Haemoglobinopathies Lye-Lin Ho

Immunohaematology Danny Hsu

Lymphomas Nicholas Viiala

Myeloma Silvia Ling

Obstetric haematology Penelope Motum

Thrombosis & haemostasis Penelope Motum

5,086 INPATIENT

CONSULTATIONS


CANCER GENETICS

The number of referrals to the Cancer Genetics service continues to grow, as recognition of hereditary genetic syndromes is increasingly recognised as an important component for cancer prevention and treatment.

MAINSTREAM GENETIC TESTINGCancer Genetics coordinates a mainstream genetic testing program for medical oncologists throughout SWSLHD. By providing ongoing education, support and resources to specialists, increasing numbers of eligible patients are able to have their genetic test arranged by their treating specialist. The 2021 financial year saw the mainstream genetic testing program broadened to include new tumour streams. Eligible patients with ovarian, breast, pancreatic or prostate cancer may have their genetic test coordinated by their medical oncologist. As a result the number of patients who were able to access genetic testing through their oncologist tripled in 2021. This is a cost and time-effective model of providing genetic testing to patients, resulting in faster access to genetic test result for clinicians making treatment decisions and allows Cancer Genetics to focus resources on providing assessment,

counselling and risk management advice to patients and families with complex family histories or counselling needs.

MULTIDISCIPLINARY MEETINGSCancer Genetics has provided representatives and advice to an increasing number of tumour stream groups in the 2021 financial year. Identification of patients appropriate for genetic referral or genetic testing results in greater recognition of potential underlying hereditary cause. Representation at MDT meetings also improves communication channels between Cancer Genetics and relevant specialists.

TELEHEALTHPrior to the Covid pandemic, Cancer Genetics had already been using telehealth. Liverpool Hospital Genetic Counsellors in clinic with patients were remotely supported by the Genetics specialist, who was offsite. This experience allowed the Cancer Genetics service to meet the challenges of covid and implementation of telehealth. The model was rapidly adapted to allow counselling via telehealth into patient’s homes. In 2021, the Cancer Genetics service provided 202 telehealth

appointments to 166 individuals.

HIGH RISK WOMENS’ CLINICFor women under 50 years of age, with a known hereditary gene mutation that places them at high risk of developing breast cancer, breast MRI is recommended. The high risk womens’ clinic is a multidisciplinary clinic that coordinates breast imaging, provides timely advice regarding additional non-breast cancer risks and provides psychosocial support. Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, 33 women were monitored through this clinic in 2021.

EDUCATION AND TRAININGCancer Genetics is a rapidly evolving field. New genes are being discovered that are associated with hereditary cancer predisposition, and strategies to manage risk are updated as new evidence emerges. The Cancer Genetics service provides education throughout SWSLHD to Oncology specialists and advanced trainees, MDT groups, basic physician trainees and medical students. We have strengthened links with the Clinical Genetics service at Liverpool Hospital, by attending a joint monthly journal club, and are active participants

The Cancer Genetics service provides a comprehensive service for individuals where the personal and family history of cancer causes concern regarding a potential underlying hereditary cancer predisposition.

DR IMILIA IPCancer Genetics Specialist

715CANCER GENETIC

REFERRALS


in monthly NSW Familial Cancer Centre meetings. Emilia Ip is part of the Cancer Genetics EviQ reference committee, and regularly participates in the protocol review process, that forms the basis for hereditary cancer genetic testing and risk management in the Australia and New Zealand region.

RESEARCHThe Cancer Genetics service was a recruiting site for the Inherited Cancer Connect (ICCon) study, a flagship study of the Cancer arms of the Australian Genomics Health Alliance (Australian

Genomics). Liverpool has collaborated with SLHD Cancer Genetics and Sydney Catalyst in reviewing mainstreaming practices and clinician attitudes to mainstream testing across SWSLHD and SLHD, with data used from these surveys to inform future practice. We have maintained a broader awareness of research studies across Australia and have referred suitable individuals and families with cancer when appropriate.

The Cancer Genetics team includes Dr Emilia Ip (Cancer Genetics Specialist), Claire Trumble and Fatima Riaz (Associate Genetic Counsellors) and Josephine Santos (Administration).

MDT Meeting Involvement

Liverpool Breast

Campbelltown Breast

Gynaecology

Genitourinary

Colorectal

Liverpool Adrenal


We continue to experience increasing demand, compounded by low availability of private dermatologists. Liverpool Dermatology is the only service in the district, providing limited telephone outreach consultations to other local hospitals. Discussions with NSW health have ensued to address workforce issues in the SWSLHD. An aspirational district-wide Model of Care (MOC) is being developed to meet the ongoing demands for all hospitals. While consultation continues, interim models are being implemented to streamline the referral criteria, triage processes and booking procedures to better manage the demand for dermatological services. A Teledermatology model has also been proposed for providing consultations for other hospitals.

A small clinical service has been set up at Campbelltown Hospital with funding from the WSU.

A revolutionary trial project – ‘Dermatologist by the bedside’ was used to organise access to patients in nursing homes.

Congratulations to Dr Deshan Sebaratnam, who was selected as a Finalist for the Anthea Kerr Award.

Some interruptions to services this year were experienced during an 8 week refurbishment period and 2 COVID-19 lockdowns. The Goulburn Street facility now has 7 consulting rooms, 3 procedure rooms, a large staff / education centre, and we are anticipating the arrival of

Liverpool Dermatology strives to deliver specialised services to the population of SWSLHD with our 1.6 FTE fractionated workforce shared across 12 Staff Specialists.

DERMATOLOGY

DR MONISHA GUPTA Director of Dermatology

134PATCH TESTINGCONSULTATIONS

4,684CLINIC

CONSULTATIONS

a donated Pulse Dyer Laser for treatment of vascular birth marks. Many Dermatology services rely primarily on face-to-face consultations to visualise skin conditions, so when the lockdowns limited activities needing frequent or prolonged patient contact (eg phototherapy and patch testing) these were significantly curtailed. Procedural work also needed to be prioritised during these times. Results of our surveys of COVID responsiveness were shared with the College of Dermatologists.

The Dermatology Annual Training and Strategy Planning Day (TSPD) has been held on the last Friday in February since 2018. The day includes mandatory training, peer review and quality improvement, undertaken annually for goal setting and team building. In 2021, a socially distanced meeting.

The outpatient consultation load decreased by approximately 20% despite a significant increase in utilisation of Telehealth. We often drew upon our multicultural workforce when using interpreter services via telehealth was challenging.

Demand for hospital inpatient consultations continue to rise annually, justifying the need for a formal Consult Liaison service managed by a full time staff specialist and registrar.

Despite the service interruptions and increasing demand, involvement in MDT’s with Melanoma services, Rheumatology, Immunology, and Gastroenterology continued, and four accredited 2,983

PHOTOTHERAPY CONSULTATIONS


dermatology trainees were supported, with a rotation through Bowral to add experience with MOHS surgery, rural practice and cosmetic medicine to their skill set. We met our commitment to teaching and training via virtual learning platforms.

RESEARCH PROJECTS We continue to work with Ingham Institute to recruit staff for Clinical trials, in the meantime we have 4 trials open with UNSW (Hodswoth House).

1. Validation of the HisQOL in Hidradenitis Suppurativa (collaboration with UMelb and UQ)

2. Development of Consensus Guidelines for the Management of HS in the Asia Pacific (Collaboration with the APHis Foundation)

3. Development of Consensus Guidelines for Infectious Diseases Screening in HS Prior to Biologic Therapy in the Asia Pacific

4. Development of Hidradenitis Suppurativa Registry

5. Critical Evaluation of Number Needed to Screen for Comorbidities in HS (Collaboration with Dr A Garg, Northwell Health NY)

6. Evaluation of the Faecal Microbiome of Individuals with HS Treated with Adalimumab (collaboration with Monash University)

7. Systematic Review and Critical Evaluation of Biomarkers in HS (International Collaboration – us, Canada, Europe, Australia)

8. A Biomarker Driven Approach to identify the effect of IL-23 Antagonism in Pyoderma Gangrenosum (Ethics pending, Funding Acquired, collaboration with M. Malone)

9. Systematic review of inflammatory mediators in Pyoderma Gangrenosum

10. Phase O Biomarker Driven Study of Fostamatinib (SYK inhibition) in HS

Our research focus over the next few years will be on NHMRC and NH grant applications, and to attract students from the Independent learning project (ILP) and Postgraduate research students.

WHATS NEXT? z Ongoing discussions regarding the Business Plan

approved top 3 priorities in 2020

z Finalising the MOC for presentation at the CQC after discussion with stake holders

z Review and revise interim MOC at Campbelltown

z Engaging in a district wide Teleconsultation project to finalise implementation of Teledermatology

z JMO position in Dermatology providing pathway for junior doctors to acquire the experience and learning opportunities and apply for the Dermatology training programme, alleviating the dermatology workforce shortages

z Expand scope of service – Paediatric dermatology, Vulvar clinic

z Genetics and Dermatology MDT commencing soon with first clinic scheduled for 8th November 2021, hopefully with the involvement of Paediatrics too.

TRENDS IN TREATMENT SESSIONS

HOSPITAL INPATIENT CONSULTS OUTPATIENT SERVICES


SWSLHD PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICE

The plan has provided a road map over the past 5years to drive practice, workforce, new models of care, strategic developments and innovation across the LHD. The plan contained 107 strategies with 84 (78.50%) completed and/or now embedded as usual business; 19 (17.76%) remain partially completed and will remain as ongoing work, and 4 (3.74%) not achieved primarily as they are workforce strategies that will require funding. Over the life of the plan there has been significant investment with (12) new positions (nursing, medical, other); 2 temporary positions; and for next financial year 21/22, additional nursing and allied health positions.

The outcomes of the plan have been presented to District Executive, General Managers, Cancer Governance Committee, SWS Integrated Care Committee (including SWSPHN), other committees and external stakeholders.

Those strategies that have not been achieved to date, require further resources and/or a longer period to be progressed. This includes prioritising allied health, psycho-social support and clinical services in Macarthur and Wingecarribee

MOH enhancements this year have included funding for the next 3years for the Health Promotion role, District Advance Care Planning officer and a CNC3 role to provide enhanced palliative care access to RACF. Additional funded programs have included On the Job Training ($43,000) utilised for tertiary scholarships, conference registrations and District Communication Masterclasses.

Bankstown Hospital (oncology ward) and Camden PCU completed refurbishment projects to improve family room spaces for palliative care. Funding was provided by MOH and the rooms have been positively received by patients, families and staff .

After 8years, the PEACH program led by SWSLHD on behalf of 4 LHDs, in partnership with SilverChain as the provider, ceased on 30th June 2021. This program has achieved good outcomes in clinical care, meeting patient/carer preferences for care at home and home deaths and has resulted in 280 packages delivered for the year with 75% deaths at home and only 5% admitted to acute hospital. The program has also been recognised through multiple awards, publications and conference presentations.

JANEANE HARLEM DIRECTORSWSLHD Palliative Care

The District Palliative Care teams, SilverChain staff, referrers to the program (internally and externally) are thanked for their contribution and support. In addition, the leadership of SWSLHD CEO Ms Amanda Larkin, Prof Josephine Chow Director Strategy and Partnerships and Ms Kim Jobburn Program Manager, Strategic Programs, provided strong corporate governance and oversight which ensured program success. Finally, I thank Therese Smeal, District Nurse Coordinator for her role as co-clinical lead and providing strong clinical governance and leadership.

From 1st July 2021, a new version of PEACH will be rolled out with new provider Hammondcare (Braeside) and the service looks forward to developing this partnership.

SPHERE Palliative Care Research activities have included the opportunity for 10 SWS staff to participate in quality improvement training with Stanford University. The projects being undertaken include Paediatric palliative care referral pathways and working with the Sydney Children’s Network. The other project is improving the 1300 palliative care phone support line for patients and carers.

Despite the COVID pandemic, 2020/21 has seen many key achievements for the palliative care service during the final year of the SWSLHD Advance Care Planning, End of Life and Palliative Care Strategic Plan 2016 – 2021.

1,231 CLINIC

CONSULTATIONS


The Volunteer Service has contributed to the distribution and ongoing support of bereaved carers/ families through bereavement packs and information which have provided a lifeline to many isolated families during COVID restrictions along with on-line support groups/counselling through the Braeside Bereavement Service.

SWSLHD recently launched new resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to promote palliative care resources/ services and Advance Care Planning. A booklet “A Journey into Sorry Business” was developed in conjunction with the SWSPHN and included consultation and advice from community Elders. A video has also been filmed in SWS that showcases the importance of Advance Care Planning, led by Groundswell organisation with funding from MOH. Partners included Gandangara and Tharawal AMSs.

“THIS PROGRAM HAS ACHIEVED GOOD OUTCOMES IN CLINICAL CARE, MEETING PATIENT/CARER PREFERENCES FOR CARE AT HOME AND HOME DEATHS AND HAS RESULTED IN 280 PACKAGES DELIVERED FOR THE YEAR WITH 75% DEATHS AT HOME AND ONLY 5% ADMITTED TO ACUTE HOSPITAL. ”

7,537 MEDICAL/NURSING

HOME VISITS

604INPATIENT

CONSULTATIONS

389TELEHEALTH


ACTIVITIES z Attending weekly RACF/ Aged Care risk huddle

regarding COVID planning and response and developing relationships with the sector regarding end of life care and bereavement

z Enhancement of SWSLHD Equipment Loan Pool (ELP) and improving access to high cost equipment through data collection and referral pathways

z Submission to Commonwealth to support iPads for volunteer service in developing an on line carer support service

z Art Exhibition at Liverpool Public Library showcasing artworks developed by local artists based on staff perceptions during COVID

z Health Promotion project with the multicultural health service and Interpreter Service resulted in 120 people attending community education and information sessions about palliative care from 7 language groups

WHERE TO FROM HERE? z Meetings have commenced with District Planning and initial background work

will commence over next 6 months and formal consultations in 2022 towards the next strategic plan

z Commencement of new PEACH program for the LHD

z Building the partnership with SWSPHN through education, community development projects and models of care

z Improving data reporting/ quality/ systems through working in partnership with Cancer Information Program Manager

z Improving allied health access and services for palliative care across the LHD

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThis year, palliative care services, like all services, have been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to Heads of Departments and all staff for the roles you have played in continuing to deliver services in an ever changing landscape, develop resources, COVID planning and advocating for patients/ families regarding compassionate visiting and care at end of life. Community teams across the LHD have continued to be at the forefront of care as well as involved in COVID response. Your dedication, expertise and support for each other has been extraordinary.


ACTIVITY

MEDICAL OUTPATIENT CONSULTS

PALLIATIVE CARE INPATIENT ADMISSIONS, DEATHS & DISCHARGES

MEDICAL & NURSING COMMUNITY CONSULTS

PALLIATIVE CARE - HOME DEATHS

MEDICAL & NURSING INPATIENT CONSULTS


EDUCATION z Continuing monthly area-wide education for

registrars and specialists continued via skype/ zoom

z Fortnightly Friday registrar teaching continued via skype/zoom

z May 21 Evening Macarthur/ Wingecarribee PHN education session on Dementia in Palliative Care and advance Care Planning presented by Dr Lynne Kuwahata

RESEARCHMulticomponent Non Pharmacological Intervention to Prevent Delirium in Hospitalised People with Advanced Cancer: A Phase II Cluster Randomised Waitlist Controlled trial The PRESERVE Pilot study published online in Journal of Palliative Medicine 2020 - Camden PCU was a trial site for the study

MACARTHUR / WINGECARRIBEE PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICE

STAFFING z Dr Jackie Kerfoot returned from her 12 month

leave and returned to a day in Wingecarribee and 2 days in consult service at Campbelltown Hospital

z Josephine Ferreri welcomed to the Bowral Community Palliative Care CNS position

z Awarded 0.4FTE palliative care specialist position as part of radiation Oncology budget for new Linear Accelerator- advertised and awaiting interviews to fill positions

z We welcomed Dr Charbel Bejjani as new staff specialist in 2019. Dr Bejjani is proving a valuable and enthusiastic member of the team. Initially helping to cover the Campbelltown consult service in 2020, he has taken on the role of staff specialist in charge of the PCU, while continuing with a day of consults at Campbelltown Hospital. He has also increased his FTE from 0.6 to 1 FTE

z Dr Jackie Kerfoot left in January 2020 for 12month LSL

z Dr Fiona Stafford-Bell has taken 0.2FTE locum staff specialist position and is working in the community to support this busy service

z Willie Wilson CNC Campbelltown Hospital/ Camden PCU mid 2019

z Rosalee Estrada CNE Camden Hospital 6 June 2020

z Janice Spindley CNS2 Bowral hospital

z Chloe Ross CNC Wingecarribee PC Community service

z Deborah Mc Evoy-Herbert PC Social worker PCU and Community

z Sheree ale PC Social worker PCU & Community

DR LYNNE KUWAHATAHead of Department Macarthur Wingecarribee Palliative Care Service


for terminally-ill Palliative Care patients and their families. Planning also continues to progress for the new Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital.

STAFFINGOur Palliative Care team continues to grow:

z We have welcomed Ms Karlene Oxley-Jenkins as CNS

z Ms Lilliana Agostino is now the new End of Life Care Coordinator (EOLC).

z We also have a new Community Palliative Care Social Worker, Ms Mercedes Marbach.

z Unfortunately, we have said goodbye to Ms Jodie Peronchik who has done a wonderful job in being the Palliative Care CNC for the last 5 years.

z With the employment of a dedicated EOLC, our focus in the next 12 months will be improving the quality of EOLC delivered in Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital and supporting bereaved families. An education and implementation plan for the rollout of the End of Life Toolkit has been developed that will empower all clinicians to provide the specialized and appropriate care necessary for their terminally-ill patients.

With the ongoing challenges presented by COVID-19, we are developing a service that is flexible in meeting the growing need for Palliative Care in both the hospital and the community.Telehealth is now commonly used in our outpatient clinics and for scheduled home visits. The majority of clinical planning and teaching meetings are now conducted online. Most importantly, we now have the necessary mobile workstations with pre-installed conferencing software that allow Palliative Care patients to communicate with family and friends during COVID-19 visitor restrictions.

There has been notable refurbishments in Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital in the last 12 months that will improve both patients and their family experience. With the help of the NSW Ministry of Health Palliative Care Refurbishment Grant, the family room, kitchenette and outside courtyard of the dedicated cancer ward have all been renovated and rejuvenated, resulting in a more accessible and much nicer space for all Palliative Care patients and family members. As part of the refurbishment, Medical Gas panels have been incorporated in both the family room and outside courtyard, which allows those patients who are oxygen dependent to enjoy the space as well.

The re-development of Bankstown Hospital Emergency department has meant there is now a dedicated single room

BANKSTOWN HOSPITAL PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICES

DR RAJESH AGGARWALHead of Department Bankstown Hospital Palliative Care Service


4C Balcony Refurbishment in Mid-2020. The Palliative Care Ward was fortunate to undergo an extensive refurbishment courtesy of NSW Health funding.

A recreated outdoor “garden-like” environment with dozens of large pot plants, a forest-print on the balcony ceiling and general updates. This has significantly improved the amenity and allows our Patients, families and staff to enjoy an outdoor environment on the balcony within a garden setting. Many of our very sick patients are too unwell to go downstairs so this is their way of getting outside in comfort.

COMMUNITY PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICEWe have had record numbers of patients visited at home by our Specialist Palliative Care Community Service which is a reflection of the ongoing COVID pandemic and the desire for patients/families to have end-of-life care provided at home as much as possible.

COVID IMPACTSThe ongoing COVID pandemic has hugely impacted our palliative care patients and their families with significant visitor restrictions at various times throughout the year. For patients at end-of-life, the team have advocated for appropriate visitor exemptions to allow family attendance during this crucial time of life.

This year there has been prolonged periods of time where Palliative Care Volunteers and Artists in Health have been unable to visit the wards – these activities bring such joy, provide support and some diversion from the medical aspects of patients’ illnesses. A number of virtual activities have been successfully implemented. Where restrictions have allowed, our service has delivered various events in the Palliative Care Ward as well as the wider service to brighten up the mood and provide a positive outlook for all including events during Palliative Care Week, a modified Melbourne Cup afternoon tea and Bereavement activities.

LIVERPOOL HOSPITAL PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICE

DR THANG HUYNHHead of DepartmentLiverpool Hospital Palliative Care Service


The service is acutely aware of the heightened grief and distress that severe illness and end-of-life situations can impact patients and lead to very difficult bereavement outcomes for families. Temporary additional Social Work staffing are aiming to organize a Memorial Service in the near future.

CHANGES IN CLINICAL PRACTICE DUE TO COVIDThe team have utilized changes in practice such as using telehealth consultations and videoconferencing to communicate with patients as well as between different staff members.

BUTTERFLY BOX FOR END-OF-LIFE CAREA great initiative developed by staff to provide a box of items that staff can use to improve the surrounding patient environment, and items that can be used by families as they grieve the death of their loved one. It contains memory items such as candles that can be placed around the bedside and handmade quilt.

RENAL SUPPORTIVE CAREOur collaboration with the Renal Department continues from strength to strength with clinics, inpatient reviews and home visits by the Renal Supportive Care Service for patients with end-stage kidney disease. This provides a great support for these patients and helps them with symptom management, psychosocial assessment and ongoing important advance care planning discussions around patient’s wishes for their future medical care.

MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE CLINICThis clinic sees patients throughout SWSLHD with MND. Palliative Care provides a key role for these patients in assisting in symptom control, discussing advance care planning decisions and in the transition to eventual end-of-life care.

RESEARCH & EDUCATIONOur Department continues to provide ongoing Palliative Care education to all levels of medical and nursing staff, including medical students, junior doctors and GP’s, as well as widespread nursing in-services.

Our Department is involved in several ongoing clinical trials in Palliative Care at Liverpool Hospital, and staff members have contributed to publishing research papers encompassing both Cancer and non-Cancer fields.

NEW CANCER PAIN MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM MEETINGThis newly set up meeting involves several different medical specialties who meet to discuss the optimum management of the few patients who have very severe or difficult to control cancer pain. This meeting has resulted in these patients being offered additional treatments aimed to assist with improving their challenging cancer pain.

“...THESE ACTIVITIES BRING SUCH JOY, PROVIDE SUPPORT AND SOME DIVERSION FROM THE MEDICAL ASPECTS OF PATIENTS’ ILLNESSES.”


We continue to deliver services through the Braeside Palliative Care Unit, an out-patient palliative care clinic, providing consult support to Fairfield Hospital, and providing after-hours phone support for clients of the SWSLHD community palliative care service., along with community allied health and bereavement services.

Our commitment to ensuring the quality of care the Palliative Care Unit delivered has been realised with the service meeting and even exceeding the national PCOC benchmarks for the period of July to December, 2020. The unit also recently underwent accreditation in April, 2021 with pleasing outcomes. As part of our ongoing involvement in research in palliative care, we remain a recruitment site for multiple studies and also active participants in the RAPID series conducted by PACCS.

During the past year, our viewing room where families, carers and friends can spend time with their loved one after death if preferred, was refurbished thanks to the generous grant provided by the Rotary Club Wetherill Park. The grant included replacing all the furniture and redecorating the space, as well as a kettle and a cupboard where tea and coffee-making supplies for users of the room can be kept. Aside from this, we have continued facilitating grants though Dreams funding. Among our successful Dreams projects last year included a mother having a wedding pictorial with her daughter in the Braeside courtyard; the baptism of a grandchild in the Braeside chapel so that his dying grandmother could attend; and organising a backyard barbeque for a matriarch of a large extended family.

There are good changes afoot this coming year. The Braeside Palliative Care Unit has been awarded a NSW MOH

Palliative Care refurbishment grant for improvement and development of our sunroom into a family media room. Also, as part of growing Braeside’s footprint in the community, we are working with the District palliative care service towards the development of the new PEACH program to be rolled out on the 1st of July, 2021.

The Braeside team is looking forward to our ongoing collaboration with the SWSLHD Cancer Service this coming year and is committed to finding more ways to work together to deliver the holistic care that clients in this area deserve.

The Palliative Care Service at Braeside has forged through the challenge and uncertainty of the past year with the help of a close-knit multidisciplinary team united by a passion to serve the local community.

BRAESIDE HOSPITAL PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICE

DR MARICLAIRE FRANCISCO A/Director Palliative CareBraeside Hospital


FAIRFIELD HOSPITAL PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICE

This service is led by CNS2 Pippa Richards who has championed palliative care education and awareness inside and outside the hospital. Pippa Richards presented lectures on end of life care and advance care planning to Macquarie University first year medicine and first year doctor of physiotherapy students

The Ivy Project roll out at Fairfield Hospital where a butterfly symbol is placed outside a patient’s room to notify both clinical and non-clinical staff that a patient is in their last days of life. The Ivy Project has been successfully implemented in wards 1A, 2A and the ICU at Fairfield Hospital and has helped hospital staff to recognise and respond appropriately upon seeing the Ivy butterfly.

Fairfield hospital was a recipient of a workstation on wheels through the e-health initiative which has been utilised on ward 1A for many family meetings.

PIPPA RICHARDSFairfield Hospital Palliative Care Service

2016-20 STATS

During 2020 there were 1010 occasions of service completed by the team which is a 46% increase to the previous year.

1010OCCASIONS OF

SERVICE

FAIRFIELD ACTIVITY


BOWRAL PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICE

Led by CNS 2 Janice Spinley and Dr Lynne Kuwahata the Time is Precious program (TIP) was launched in July.

The TIP progam was established to improve delivery and timeliness of care for end of life and palliative care patients presenting to the emergency department. CNS Janice Spinley has delivered mutiple education sessions on the Time is Precious Program.

“A NEW REFERRAL PATHWAY FOR END OF LIFE AND PALLIATIVE CARE PATIENTS THAT PRESENT TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.” 4 new graduates have enrolled in the New Graduate Palliative Care Workshop at Bowral Hospital, and 4 RNs from Bowral hospital have undergone training via the ABC workshop. We will soon recommence a Care of The Dying Committee to ensure a continuity of policy and governance across all levels of care in B&DH

Work continues around Advance Care Planning Education- train the trainer for CNE and Medical Teams- a new ACP Is Everyone’s Business Resource Folder collated and now resides for all in each of the hospital wards to encourage early discussions and engagement by ALL staff

Bowral District Hospital now has an EMR Palliative Nursing referral process- which is improving the referral of palliative and EOL patients to ensure timely medical and nursing supports for inpatients, and continuity in care across community and hospital.

Established partnership with Mittagong Quilters Guild that supplies handmade quilts to palliative care patients as needed and free of charge.


A new triage tool has been developed by the CNC group to improve clinical assessment and prioritization of clients at referral. This was led by Sandra Sullivan, CNC Bankstown CHC.

Community palliative care staff participating in Stanford Quality Improvement Projects: Kathy Schofield, CNC Rosemeadow CHC, Sandra Sullivan CNC Bankstown CHC

Srey Kang Palliative Care RN Hoxton Park CHC was acknowledged during COVID for her ongoing community development work speaking to her community via radio, print media and online groups

An ongoing challenge for community services is the increasing referrals, particularly in new growth areas and timely access to nursing, allied health and medical specialist services. Average total number of palliative care clients across the 5 community health centres at any one time is over 500, with highest referrals in Macarthur, Liverpool and Fairfield LGAs.

Kerrie Womsley, CNC Hoxton Park, developed a tool to assist community nurses in documenting assessment, called ‘PROMs names’. It has enabled a consistent and standardized approach to documentation.

Other projects underway include escalation of the deteriorating patient: Rani Prasad CNC Fairfield CHC and Implementing a nursing bereavement support response: Chloe Ross CNC Bowral CHC.

Welcomed new staff:

z New palliative care nurse Hoxton Park CHC: Joanne Roseman

z New palliative care nurse Fairfield CHC: Angelica Frandsen

z New palliative care CNS2 Bowral CHC: Josie Ferreri

z New RN Rosemeadow CHC: Donny Ponman

Primary and Community Health led a review of the palliative care model of care which involved extensive consultation and working groups.

COMMUNITY SPECIALIST PALLIATIVE CARE NURSING


RADIATION ONCOLOGY

The states along the east coast and half of Australia are confined to their homes under public health orders. Australia had its earlier success in our response to the Covid19 outbreak with closing the international border and strict quarantine, public acceptance of spatial distancing and telehealth. In New South Wales, we have avoided the worst of the Covid19 pandemic until recently.

The last four weeks have exposed NSW’s lack of preparation within the health system and our community for the rapidly spreading Delta variant. This has resulted in a reactive policy approach with mixed and confusing messages. The risk of Covid-19 lurking again means that our way of life must fundamentally change.

Despite the pandemic, Radiation Oncology has continued to deliver where it matters most- we provide excellent cancer care to affected patients in our community. I am grateful for the extraordinary efforts in adapting to the new way of care and amazing resilience that this SWS Radiation Oncology team has shown. Odette, Gary and I would like to acknowledge and say a special thank you and congratulations to all physicists, radiation therapists, radiation oncology, clinical trials and nursing team for their ongoing commitment to our patients, to each other, and cancer services. Your teamwork, your ability to rise to the challenge and maintain focus is always

on display but particularly evident in the current environment. Congratulations

AWARDS(Vicky B is setting the bar a little too high):

1. Zientara, N. Award for Best student in the Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science (Radiation Therapy) Program - Australian Society for Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, 01/03/2021

2. Roach D. Award for Outstanding Contribution to Research by a Higher Degree Student - UNSW Medicine. UNSW 2020.

3. Liu P, Ge Y, Dong B, Liney G, Nguyen D, Hewson E, et al., editors. BEST IN PHYSICS (MULTI-DISCIPLINARY): First Experimental Investigation of Simultaneously Tracking Two Independently Moving Targets On An MRI-Linac Using Real-Time MRI and MLC Tracking. AAPM; 2020 14/07/2020; Virtual.

4. Batumalai V. Early Career Research Award at the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research. 2020.

5. Batumalai V. 2019 Epidemiological/Health Services Research Paper of the Year: Batumalai, V; Shafiq, J; Hanna, TP: Gabrial, G; Herberle, J; Koprivic, I; Kaadan, N; King, O; Tran, T; Cassapi, L; Forstner, D; Delaney, G; Barton, M, 2019. “Estimating the cost of radiotherapy for

DR VIET DODirector Radiation Oncology

5 year local control and overall survival benefit”, Radiotherapy Oncology, vol. 136, pg. 154-60. Clinical School and Precinct South Western Sydney: UNSW Medicine and Health: 2020

6. Batumalai V. Outstanding contribution for an Early Career Researcher. UNSW Medicine and Health: Clinical School Precinct South Western Sydney; 2020.

7. Barton M. Distinguished Research Prize. UNSW Medicine and Health Clinical School Precinct South Western Sydney; 2020.

Notable achievements for Radiation Oncology (including Radiation Therapy and Physics

1. Acceptance Testing completed for the new orthovoltage and linear accelerator units at Macarthur CTC

2. Completion of Radiation Oncology component of the Macarthur CTC redevelopment

3. Clinical release of RayStation for VMAT treatments for CNS and Intact Prostate

4. Additional RayStation Commissioning tasks associated with segmentation and scripting

5. Upgrade of RayStation to version 10B

6. Creation of dashboard for review of patient’s specific quality assurance results

The past year of the coronavirus pandemic continues to be a very strong feature in our everyday lives.

9,058 CONSULTATIONS

2,043 TELEHEALTH


7. Completion of implementation of imaging review (“Traffic lights”) across all treatment sites

8. Installation of the IQM system across Liverpool and Macarthur CTC

9. Implementation of RadCalcAir for automation of a second independent dose calculation as part of the department’s comprehensive treatment plan checking

10. Purchase and clinical implementation of specialised ‘Venezia’ brachytherapy applicator used for (more precise) treatment of advanced gynaecological cancers

ONGOING PROJECTS:1. Liverpool CTC redevelopment

2. Ongoing staggered release of Raystation Treatment Planning System for additional treatment sites and techniques

634INPATIENTEPISODES

31,794 RADIOTHERAPY

TREATMENTS

3. Continual investigations into utilising Seedtracker for pancreas, liver, and prostate.

4. Development of treatment dashboard

5. Clinical implementation of the iQM system

RESEARCH STUDENTS: z 13 F/T PhD students (11 MP, 1 RO, 1 RT)

z 5 P/T PhD students who are either CTC or Ingham Med Phys staff (2 MP, 1 RO, 1 MRI radiographer, 1 Comp Sc)

z 1 P/T Masters student (MP)

z 4 F/T Hons students (2 MP, 2 RT)


Walker from her previous role as a medical physics registrar into the research & development medical physicist role.

Our group continued to adapt to the constantly evolving environment we continue to be in as the COVID-19 situation continues to develop.

Our annual research planning day was held virtually at the end of 2020 and provided a great opportunity for staff, students, and external collaborators (some of whom cannot usually attend in person) to come together to share ideas of where the group is heading and how we might continue to improve.

Another successful AUS MRinRT conference was organised out of Liverpool. The 2020 conference was a completely virtual and free event, showcasing the work of the Australian MRI-linac program and the work of our collaborators, and had national and international involvement.

A big thank you to all the staff, students and collaborators who have pulled together and kept things pushing ahead this year. We look forward to seeing what the coming year has in store.

RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENTSAmy Walker commenced in the MP R&D role and Lois Holloway stepped down as REC chair (handing the reigns over to Vicky B Dec 2020).

The 2020/2021 year has continued to see the growth and development of our multidisciplinary research team across several research streams. Our staff, students, and research collaborators continue to make work in the areas of the Australian MRI-Linac, MRI for radiotherapy, data mining, auto-segmentation, and uncertainties in radiotherapy. We are continuing to work closely with our research partners and maintaining and developing research agreements with exciting potential for collaborations and interesting research investigations.

Of notable mention is the grant success members of our group have experienced this year. A large multidisciplinary national team, led by A/Prof Lois Holloway was awarded an ARDC grant for their proposal to establish a national cancer data network to link clinical and trial data for machine learning analysis to ultimately improve personalised decision pathways for patients. Additionally, Dr Shivani Kumar and Dr Shrikant Deshpande and their respective teams were both awarded CONCERT Infrastructure grants which have seen the procurement of equipment to continue to develop our research capacity. A huge congratulations to all involved on the efforts that went in to writing those grants and we look forward to the exciting opportunities these will give rise to.

After last year’s influx of completed research degrees, we have continued to see a few students through to the completion of their research work. This past year saw two PhD and three honours degrees awarded, with a number of additional PhD theses submitted for review.

The 2020/2021 year saw some new (and some familiar) faces take up various positions within our group. We’ve welcomed Dr Shuchoa Pang, who joined our team through collaborations with UNSW working in the datamining and contour uncertainties space, and Daniel Al Mouiee who joined to provide additional computer development support for ongoing clinical developments as well as work in datamining. The research assistant to the Australian MRI-Linac and MANTRA clinical trial position was occupied by Dr Jarryd Buckley and currently by Thahabah Alharthi, showing how fortunate we are to be able to hold on to and provide opportunities to some of our students as they complete their research degrees. We also welcomed Dr Amy

75PUBLICATIONS

ACTIVITY 2020-2021

Activity BCC LCTC MCTC SHCC Total

RO inpatient 52 488 92 2 634

RO Radiotherapy-treatment (not courses) 19,748 12,046 31,794

RO Outpatient 350 5,482 2,878 348 9,058

RO Telehealth 61 1,151 776 55 2,043

Radiation Oncology Total 463 26,869 15,792 405 43,529

$9.3MIL+GRANTS


“GETTING TOGETHER” FOR THE 2020 PHYSICS RESEARCH PLANNING DAY


RADIATION ONCOLOGY ACTIVITIES IN SWSLHD IN 2020-2021

This graph shows the number of new courses of treatment and treatment attendances since 2016. The significant trend is that of decreased attendances by 5% per year in the last two years despite the slowly increased number of new courses of treatment. This may be the result of our deliberate attempt to introduce shorter duration of treatments during the lockdown and the global tendency to use hypo-fractionation.

This graph shows the proportion of simple versus complex versus replans over time.

In 2016, the ratio of simple plan versus complex plan (IMRT/VMAT/Tomotherapy) was 2.4:1. By 2020, this ratio was 1.1/1.0, reflecting the increased use of advanced technology in planning and delivery of radiotherapy treatment.

NEW COURSES & TREATMENT ATTENDANCES

SIMPLE VS COMPLEX VS REPLANS


RADIATION ONCOLOGY NURSINGWOW! What a year!

As every department has experienced this year due to Covid-19 we have had to re-organise the way we work. This has resulted in splitting our nursing team into 2 and separating our work areas. We allocate patient activities to certain work areas. We have found that this new system actually works very well for us. We plan to continue this way after the Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted.

Our CNS2 Rad Onc (Stacey Buxton) has re-invented the Rad Bay orientation manual, included in this now are the RONKAS framework, department specific guidelines and radiation therapy nursing competencies. In-line with the orientation manual, we have also updated our Rad Bay Model of Care to reflect these changes.

We have also been involved in the working committees to review and update Hospital / District policies that have an impact on radiation therapy nursing. Such policies include Brachytherapy for Gynaecological Malignancies and Intravenous Non-Ionic Contrasts Administration - In Medical Imaging Departments & Cancer Therapy Centre.

In the past year, Rad Bay nurses have seen 1,421 new patients and have attended to 5,964 nursing reviews.

CLINICAL TEAMSRADIATION ONCOLOGY ABDO-PELVISThe abdominal/pelvis group comprises four main tumour subsites – upper gastrointestinal, lower gastrointestinal, gynaecological, and genitourinary (GU) malignancies. The highlights and future projects of each of these sites are as follows:

z Ongoing successful patient recruitment for NINJA Trial.

z RayStation planning system implementation for intact prostate VMAT planning.

z Successful patient recruitment of a prospective feasibility trial investigating the use of SeedTracker tumour localisation in conventional radiotherapy treatments with the aim of improving accuracy (SUPER-I Trial).

z Expansion of Hexapod based rotational error correction for all applicable Abdo-Pelvis patients.

z Successful completion of RT Hons project investigating rotational error correction and planning target volume margin reduction in rectal cancer radiotherapy.

z Successful completion of RT Hons project investigating bone marrow sparing VMAT planning project for cervical and vaginal cancer.

z Successful clinical implementation of new advanced Veneza gynaecological applicator set, (Venezia applicator), for cervix brachy treatment.

z Successful implementation of overnight stays for cervix brachytherapy, significantly shortening the workflow and improving efficiency of treatment for the patient and department.

z Ongoing recruitment of patients for EMBRACE II trial

z Successful volunteer recruitment to ASPIRE-1, a feasibility assessment of pancreatic adaptive SBRT using treatment day planning MR images acquired using MR simulator- Phase 1. Data analysis in progress.

z Convened second Abdo-Pelvis annual planning meeting.

9,058 OUTPATIENT

CONSULTATIONS

2,043 TELEHEALTH

CONSULTATIONS


FUTURE PROJECTS z To start recruitment on a multi-centre Australian pancreatic

cancer SBRT trial (MASTERPLAN).

z Expansion of Prostate SBRT to MCTC

z Treatment margin optimisation in intact prostate radiotherapy with real-time position monitoring

z Development of a dynamic couch which, when integrated with the SeedTracker software, will allow real-time correction of tumour position during stereotactic radiotherapy delivery.

RADIATION ONCOLOGY ACTThe ‘Above Clavicle Team’ (ACT) comprises 3 main tumour subsites – Head and Neck, CNS, and Skin. The ACT group meet once per week for audit reviews, once every 2 months for a business meeting and once per month for an educational meeting. Highlights and future projects of each of these sites are as follows:

z Transition of selected CNS patients from Pinnacle to Raystation planning systems

z Ongoing data analysis of the Fraxion CNS immobilisation system for radiosurgery

z CT and MRI Atlas building for CNS sites

z Completion of a mouth bung study – the Klarity BiteLok system implemented in our department, reduces side effects to the tongue for Head and Neck treatments

z Investigation into Klarity bolus material for nose treatments

z Investigation and implementation of Intrasite gel for cavity filling of broken skin during skin cancer treatments

z Updating H&N Palliative DVH scorecards and templates

z Addition of Pharyngeal constrictors constraints to H&N workflow as well as updating contouring guidelines

z Recruitment to various Head and Neck studies

z Site activation and lead investigator in FIG Trial which is a 10 site TROG study investigating the use of FET-PET for diagnosis and follow-up of GBM patients.

FUTURE PROJECTS z Review of electron processes in Raystation

z ExacTrac Dynamic Commissioning and Clinical Use

z Development of quality project to reduce margins for unilateral larynx based on evidence in literature

z H+N SABR Clinical trial and protocol development

z Multi-parametric MRI imaging for target delineation and RT plan adaption in glioma

z Development of an outcome prediction deep learning model support tool to aid clinical decision making for older, frail Head and Neck cancer patients

RADIATION ONCOLOGY THORAXIt was a productive year for the thorax group. Our highlights for the year included:

z Development of lung and breast planning protocols and workflow for Raystation treatment planning system.

z Adoption of extreme breast hypofractionation protocol (FASTFORWARD). This protocol is delivered over one week duration, so for the patients who qualify it is a very convenient treatment.

z Finalization of custom bolus project testing the clinical use of Klarity bolus to improve conformity in post-mastectomy radiotherapy patients.

z Completion of patient recruitment into lung ADAPT trial that investigates reduced imaging dose in lung radiotherapy

634INPATIENTEPISODES

2,344 NEW COURSE OF

TREATMENT

“IN THE PAST YEAR, RAD BAY NURSES HAVE SEEN 1,421 NEW PATIENTS AND HAVE ATTENDED TO 5,964 NURSING REVIEWS”


z Clinical implementation of proximal bronchial tree contouring atlas.

z Daily conebeam CT use for palliative lung patients.

z Deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) training video for breast patients with continued work to translate this to other languages.

z Expanding use of DIBH for selected right sided breast patients, as it had only been available for left sided breast cancer patients before this time.

z Incorporation of an educational talk in the monthly thorax group meeting.

z Standardisation of breast radiotherapy regimens across all radiation oncologists working at Liverpool, Campbelltown and Bankstown.

Clinical initiatives include:

z Transition of all lung and breast planning to Raystation

z Development of hybrid Volumetric Modulated Arc Technique (VMAT) for breast planning

z VMAT planning for all curative and high dose palliative lung patients

z Development of a workflow process for breath hold and abdominal compression use in selected lung cancer Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR) patients

z Monitoring and reporting on key performance indicators in breast cancer radiotherapy practice.

z Opening up of new clinical trials such as SARON (SABR for oligometastatic lung cancer) and CHEST-RT (concurrent palliative radiotherapy in small cell lung cancer).

Continued important research projects:

z Study evaluating treatment induced nausea with breast VMAT treatment

z MRI assessment in lung cancer radiotherapy study

z Ongoing data extraction for data mining projects in lung and breast cancers

z Ongoing involvement in national and international trials including local investigator-initiated research projects:

� EXPERT: RT omission randomized trial in early risk breast cancer patients

� SIMPLE AS: MRI and PET for lung SABR

� Modern Lung: hypofractionation study in concurrent chemoradiation for lung cancer

� MK7339: concurrent chemoradiotherapy with immunotherapy in small cell lung cancer.

Thorax site group executive:

z Dr Roya Merie, Dr Mei Ling Yap (radiation oncology)

z Dr Phil Vial (medical physics)

z Mel Rennie and Rebecca Bartlett (radiation therapy)

32,252 TREATMENT ATTENDANCES


MEDICAL ONCOLOGY – LIVERPOOL

HIGHLIGHTSIn the last year we employed 2 phase 1 trials staff specialists (total 1.0 FTE) and expanded the clinical trials portfolio. We now have 8 study coordinators running a total of 59 trials and 12 phase 1 trials. There are multiple studies in start-up. The service has also been enhanced by an additional clinical trials pharmacist.

District-wide monthly trials meetings were set up to foster greater collaboration between the medical oncology sites.

Clinical trials sharepoint established which allows access to protocols, patient information, consent forms, eligibility information and real-time waiting lists for phase 1 trials.

Dr Abhijit Pal was appointed as the Director of Phase 1 trials and has instituted multiple service improvements including regular clinical trials teaching which involve not just the trainees but also study coordinators, consultants and collaborating scientists.

Research partnerships with multiple pharmaceutical companies.

Victoria Bray was promoted to Associate Professor with Western Sydney University

Liverpool Hospital had 4th year medical students for the first time with two cohorts successfully completing their oncology rotations. The feedback from the students was the rotation was excellent and provided a variety of learning opportunities.

There are 8 PhD students including medical oncologists and fellows within the department.

OUTPATIENTSThe Medical Oncology service continues to grow with 1193 new patients in 2020/21. There were 7926 face to face follow-ups in 2020/21 and an additional 2567 consultations via phone or telehealth. This shows both a growth in the service and adaptation to the new model of care. There were 1295 occasions of service in the assessment unit. There were 11683 occasions of chemotherapy service in the unit.

STAFFINGWe are staffed by 11 medical oncologists (Total FTE 6.8 and 0.8 FTE Academics), 2 part-time clinical research fellow, 4 advanced trainees and 3 JMOs (2 BPTs and 1 RMO).

z Prof Wei Chua is the Professor of Medical Oncology at Western Sydney University and is also the Director of Clinical Trials (Medical Oncology). She subspecializes in colorectal and genitourinary cancers.

z Dr Eugene Moylan is the Director of Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre. He subspecializes in breast cancer.

DR AFLAH ROOHULLAHMedical Oncology – Liverpool (Aflah)

2,680 TELEHEALTH CONSULTS

“DISTRICT-WIDE MONTHLY TRIALS MEETINGS WERE SET UP TO FOSTER GREATER COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE MEDICAL ONCOLOGY SITES.”

9,342MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS


1,167 HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS AVOIDED THROUGH THE CHEMOTHERAPY

ASSESSMENT UNIT

z Dr Aflah Roohullah is the Director of Medical Oncology at Liverpool. Subspecializes in phase 1 trials, GI cancers and Head/Neck cancers. He is a member of the Advanced Training Committee in Medical Oncology for the RACP and is lead in accreditation.

z Assoc/Prof Victoria Bray is the Network Director in Advanced Training (Medical Oncology). Subspecializes in lung and head/neck cancers.

z Dr Bavanthi Balakrishnar is the Lead Supervisor for Basic Physician Training (Medical Oncology). Subspecializes in melanoma, breast and genitourinary cancers.

z Dr Kelly Mok is the Coordinator of “Ageing and Ending” medical student teaching. Subspecializes in breast cancer.

z Dr Michelle Harrison is appointed at Liverpool Hospital and Lifehouse at RPA. Subspecializes in gynaecological and breast cancers.

z Dr Adam Cooper is the Phase 1 trials specialist. Subspecializes in brain tumours and sarcomas. He is also a senior lecturer for Western Sydney University

z Assoc Prof Weng Ng subspecializes in colorectal and upper GI cancers. He supervises multiple PhD students and is the lead in GI clinic trials

21,081 MEDICAL

ONCOLOGY CHEMOTHERAPY

TREATMENTS

1,710 INPATIENT

CONSULTATIONS


Many COVID-19 restrictions have remained and telehealth and video assisted consultations have continued even during times of low community prevalence. I am proud that we have had the highest uptake of telehealth in medical oncology departments within SWSLHD. Working from home and virtual clinical and business meetings continued and resulted in improved attendance.

We have introduced a quality improvement meeting to improve the workflow of chemotherapy prescribing, approval and administration. The input from our pharmacists and nursing colleagues have led to further streamlining of an already efficient process. Monthly morbidity and mortality meetings assess the quality of care, prevalence of dose reductions and ad hoc orders are reviewed monthly and chemotherapy within 30 days of

death are reviewed to ensure that we are providing high value care with excellent results. Our adverse events are minimal, our hand hygiene results remain the best in the hospital and adherence to allergy recording is the best in the Local Health District.

The Department carried a vacancy for the 10 months of the 2021/22 Financial Year with the resignation of our clinical fellow. The hard work and the high quality of the work of all the oncologists and our remaining 2 Advanced Training Medical Oncology registrars has allowed us to keep waiting times to a minimum. A roster of senior clinicians appropriately triaging new referrals ensure that those in greatest need are seen promptly. Our innovative MCTC junior medical officer position calls patients after a hospital admission to minimize the risk of an unplanned readmission and to ensure compliance

with community treatment and planned investigations.

We have continued to provide significant involvement in the Western Sydney University Medical School programme. Dr Peeysei Kok coordinates the Year 4 clinical attachment and supervises honours students in their oncology projects, with one to present at the 2021 Clinical Oncology Society of Australia scientific meeting. We lecture to Year 1 and 2 students, provide mentorship to Year 3 students and teach during the 9-week clinical placement of Year 4 students within the Macarthur Cancer Centre and have Year 5 pre-intern ward attachments. Publications, presentations and invitations to lecture have increased.

We have been fortunate to attract excellent locum coverage during Dr Stephanie Lim’s maternity leave with Dr Emma Carson, Dr Peeysei Kok and Dr

8,130MEDICAL CONSULTATIONS

2,466 TELEHEALTH

CONSULTATIONS

The Cancer Institute and the Bureau of Health Information report in December 2020, How Do Outpatient Cancer Clinics Rate, based on direct feedback from our patients rated the Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre as the best public or private cancer service in NSW for the 5th consecutive survey over 6 years, a testament to the sustained level of excellence all staff members provide our patients, their carers and families.

MEDICAL ONCOLOGY - MACARTHUR

ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR STEPHEN DELLA-FIORENTINA OAM MBBS (Hons), FRACP


Sarah Khan. Dr Diana Adams now leads the quality improvement programmes. Dr Belinda Kiely has continued to broaden the number of clinical trials at all stages of breast cancer treatment. Dr Annette Tognela continues as the Chair of the Campbelltown and Camden Research Committee; she remains the director of the clinical trials unit, has increased clinical trial participation for our patients and improved the financial viability of the service. Dr PoYeeYip leads the inpatient patient flow projects and supervises the morbidity and mortality meetings. Dr Aflah Roohullah is currently Director of Medical Oncology at Liverpool and specifically manages gastrointestinal cancers. Dr Felicia Roncolato has increased the breadth of ovarian cancer clinical trials at MCTC and is working with the urologists to improve access to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for bladder cancer patients. Dr Stephanie Lim leads the Local Health District Medical Oncology Research Committee and has produced a portfolio of research proposals for trainees and students to work on.

I AM PROUD THAT WE HAVE HAD THE HIGHEST UPTAKE OF TELEHEALTH IN MEDICAL ONCOLOGY DEPARTMENTS WITHIN SWSLHD.

13,856 MEDICAL

ONCOLOGY CHEMOTHERAPY

TREATMENTS

1,241 INPATIENT

CONSULTATIONS

404 CHEMOTHERAPY

ASSESSMENT NURSE ACTIVITIES


Multiple projects have been completed to improve the quality of our Oncology Information System, MOSAIQ, and the supportive hardware, software, reporting, and procedures.

MOSAIQ was upgraded to service pack 13, and we were successful in our submission for a Locally Funded Initiative for new and improved hardware which will become MOSAIQ’s new home by the end of 2021. Thank you to the Radiation Oncology trust fund for approving the funding.

We have led the way in Cyber Security awareness and controls by implementing monitoring and centralised logging systems and developing a comprehensive Cyber Security response plan. We have also updated our infrastructure disaster recovery and communication plans and are actively working with key groups to ensure the service has adequate business continuity plans in place. The Cancer Services IT team have also updated our anti-virus systems. Cancer Service’s long standing and extremely large file ‘the N drive’ was successfully migrated to NSWHealth.

Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) processes, documentation and billing continue to be refined and efficiencies gained. The use of QR codes for staff sign-in to MDT is currently being trialled for the Lung MDT. Cancer Institute PRMs pilot for Lung Cancer patients has been implemented across Cancer Services.

Cancer Institute’s Smoking Cessation program has been rolled out with referrals to Quitline made automatically for our patients, once an assessment has been completed in MOSAIQ.

z Liverpool Cancer Therapy, MOSAIQ support and IT team won a 2020 Quality award in Category 9: Excellence in provision of non-clinical services for Modernising Consenting: The Implementation of Signature Pads and Electronic Consent Forms to Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre

CANCER INFORMATION PROGRAM

NASREEN KAADANCancer Information Program Manager

CLINICAL CANCER REGISTRY TEAMWe welcomed Shaharyar Khan to the team as our new Senior Cancer Information Manager, and over the past 12 months, the SWSLHD Clinical Cancer Registry team has successfully:

z Continued the diagnosis data quality improvement initiative in MOSAIQ with great success.

z Implemented an audit tool in MOSAIQ Assessments to monitor data quality issues and their resolution.

z Developed PowerBI dashboards to monitor data quality improvement activity in MOSAIQ

z Provided near real-time feedback to clinicians on chemotherapy prescribing in MOSAIQ.

z Developed systemic therapy care plans to record medications that are dispensed in the community and taken by the patient.

z Provided research data and support for numerous projects in SWSLHD including active involvement in the Cancer Variation study to build an oncology data repository.

z Provided research data and support by collecting and curating data for monitoring of tumour group specific key performance indicators.

z Provided data to assist local clinical and administrative stakeholders with local decision making.

z Provided cancer notification and treatment level data to the NSW Cancer Institute to meet our statutory reporting obligations.

z After almost 20 years, we have stopped the provision of Radiotherapy Wait Time data via the HIE and are engaged with Cancer Institute NSW who will provide a new state wide tool to monitor Radiotherapy activity. The tool will also streamline the submission of radiotherapy data to state and national bodies to meet our statutory reporting obligations.


z The Bone Marrow Transplant Registry has registered all new autologous and allogenic transplant patients at Liverpool Hospital and follow-up data is routinely collected for all patients who have had a transplant from 2010 onwards. BMT Registrations (allogeneic and autologous transplants), 100 day follow-up and Annual follow-ups are now documented in MOSAIQ assessments, enabling more efficient workflows for data collection. The new electronic workflow has eliminated the paper forms, reduced triple data entry and reduced the dependence on spreadsheets.

WHAT PROJECTS ARE NEXT? z MOSAIQ migration onto new hardware

z Windows AD integration in MOSAIQ

z Upgrade to our Telstra Queuing Kiosk

z Upgrade to our MOSAIQ Citrix environment is underway

z Migration of SWSLHD current SMS application to new Telstra Whispir platform with plans to expand functionality.

z Development of a new tool to submit activity recorded in MOSAIQ for ABF purposes.

z Consolidation of Cancers Services Sharepoint sites into NSWHealth Office 365 environment and exploration of PowerBI dashboard integration.

z Development of MOSAIQ training content and record keeping on My Health Learning.

z Chemotherapy Workstation On Wheels (WOWs) rolled out at Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre for electronic administration and recording of chemotherapy in MOSAIQ.

z Collaborative research project investigating patterns of diagnosis, treatment and survival in the SWSLHD CALD population will continue

z MOSAIQ reporting environment to be structured so that it enables near real-time monitoring of activity in Cancer Services and provide a self-service reporting platform.

“WE HAVE LED THE WAY IN CYBER SECURITY AWARENESS AND CONTROLS BY IMPLEMENTING MONITORING AND CENTRALISED LOGGING SYSTEMS AND DEVELOPING A COMPREHENSIVE CYBER SECURITY RESPONSE PLAN”

z Implementation of eHealth’s new secure electronic messaging platform for patient correspondence to General Practices, Cancer Specialists, HealtheNet and My Health Record

z Oncology Information System Integration Project (integration between MOSAIQ and Powerchart) in collaboration with SWSLHD ICT, eHealth and NSW Cancer Institute is planned for implementation in the first half of 2022

z Investigating feasibility of MOSAIQ implementation at Sydney Southwest Private Hospital

z Completion of all MOSAIQ security audit recommendations

z Exploration of new tools to improve end user experience and data capture in MOSAIQ


The bone marrow transplant registry reports on the type and levels of transplants undertaken at SWSLHD.

TOTAL NUMBER OF HELPDESK CALLS CLOSED PER YEAR

TOTAL NUMBER OF MOSAIQ REPORTS COMPLETED

BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT TYPE BY TRANSPLANT YEAR

864

1264

1046

12421650

1096 106711171511

1840

294

462

221

558

1146

329672364

1008

1325


Our Clinical Cancer Registry team have had a greater focus on the quality and completion of source data over the last 2 years, enabling reporting to become more meaningful, and automated processes can be developed. The following represent some of the data items that can be difficult to consistently obtain. These graphs show improvements in data quality over time.

By further breaking down the proportion of notifiable cases that were documented by tumour type - we can begin to understand the complexity and dynamics of the MDT teams, the tools and resources applied during these dicussions and the cases they review.

Documenting the performance status (ECOG) in MOSAIQ Assessments or Clinical notes enables analysis of appropriate treatment recommendations. This graph shows those documented for the notifiable cancers diagnosed in 2020.

Multidisciplinary Team meetings ensure the best treatment is provided for patients. We aim to capture all of the recommended outcomes of these discussions – using either MOSAIQ or Powerchart to document the outcomes. Sometimes decisions are held over for further investigations, discussions with other clinicians or patients and families.

COMPARISON OF MISSING DIAGNOSIS DATE AND MORPHOLOGY FOR REPORTABLE CANCERS

TNM STAGEABLE CANCERS - PROPORTION MISSING STAGE OVER TIME

ECOG DOCUMENTED MDT DISCUSSIONS DOCUMENTED

DOCUMENTED MDT DISCUSSION

PATIENT CENTRED CARESWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021

PATIENT CENTRED CARE

1,852 VISITS TO WELLNESS PROGRAMS

5,368 PATIENTS DISCUSSED AT MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM MEETINGS

973 CARE CO-ORDINATION REFERRALS

762,883 NURSING ACTIVITIES

PATIENT CENTRED CARE SWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021

CLINICAL MANAGER’S REPORT

It has been an absolute privilege to recently join the SWSLHD Cancer Services Team. While making my way around the district, staff have been very welcoming and it is lovely to witness the passion and commitment to their patients and the service. I am looking forward to working with this team to compliment the wonderful work undertaken to enable a positive experience for our patients and support staff to achieve their full potential.

As we continue to live through the current COVID-19 pandemic, I have witnessed the ongoing resilience and professionalism amongst our team, providing continued expert and compassionate care to cancer patients during this difficult time. As the pandemic continues to evolve, our model of care has required ongoing evaluation and review to enable us to strive to keep our patients and staff safe while maintaining service delivery. Thank you to all our patients and staff for their flexibility to adapt to these changes as required.

During the current unprecedented conditions with our ever evolving COVID-19 response, it is wonderful to continue receiving compliments from our patients and carers. Patients are recognising staff who support them through their treatment journey and describing their care as “world class” and “comforting to know I was receiving excellent care”. This is a testament to our incredible team, congratulations!!

In April this year we said farewell to Kylie Smith. Kylie worked within SWSLHD for 17 years and was the Clinical Stream Manager for Cancer Services from 2017-2021. Kylie provided strong leadership and was an integral part of the team. We wish Kylie all the best in her future endeavours.

As SWSLHD transitions towards the concept of “One Service, Multiple Sites” Cancer Services Nursing and the Oncology Information Systems teams have been able to develop an electronic referral system for patients requiring care coordination. The Cancer Care Coordination service is currently working to refine the existing model of care, considering resources required for current and future demands. This will allow us to strive for a continuous improved service, providing consistent delivery of quality and safe patient care.

The Cancer Services Chemotherapy Dashboard is now live and a wonderful achievement by the Oncology Information Systems Team. The data from this dashboard will enable the overview of chemotherapy treatment wait time and variances in chemotherapy doses. This dashboard will assist in managing demand and capacity within the service by capturing activity on key performance indicators.

SWSLHD have been extremely fortunate to have the ongoing support from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and the McGrath Foundation. These foundations have assisted our district in funding an additional Prostate Care Specialist Nurse and additional Breast Care Nurses to support and care for patients within the SWSLHD communities. I look forward to continuing our relationship with the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and McGrath Foundation through our ongoing work together.

TIEN THOMASCancer and Gastro & Liver Services Clinical Stream Manager


WELLNESS ACTIVITY2019/20

LCTC MCTC TOTAL

Acupuncture 611 78 689

Art Therapy 53 53

Massage Therapy 1679 525 2204

Meditation 166 216 382

Wig Library Services 121 126 247

Yoga 293 188 481

Cooking/Nutrition 3 3

Enrich Program 454 220 676

Gardening 25 25

Wellness Education 5 5

Drop In 2 2

Morning Tea 10 10

Support Group Myeloma 19 19

Support Group Gynae 99 99

Macarthur Natural Health Clinic 34 34

Support Group Head & Neck 30 30

Total 3570 1389 4959

CANCER WELLNESS PROGRAMS

WELLNESS ACTIVITY

Complementary integrative therapies play an integral part in the patient’s treatment plan with supportive therapies for patients who are on treatment, or who have just completed treatment. Programs such as oncology massage, acupuncture and meditation can help patients through their treatment regime by alleviating side effects and improving outcomes.

“I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE MY GRATITUDE TO THE WELLNESS CENTRE FOR MAKING MY LIFE BEAUTIFUL.. THE KNOWLEDGE AND TLC I RECEIVED MADE MY LIFE BETTER.”

The table here shows wellness activity over the past year. With 1,852 occasions of service, across all activities. The programs were postponed at all sites for a total of 6 months during COVID-19 restrictions in 2020.

Our programs provide evidence-based interventions by 13 highly skilled, credentialed practitioners. Throughout the past year, our programs have been disrupted by COVID-19.


ONLINE PROGRAMSAt the commencement of the pandemic, the wellness programs where placed on hold. A large proportion of patients rely on the programs to alleviate the side effects of treatment, and with the added stress of the pandemic it was evident that we needed to provide a regular program to counteract the extra stress that the patients were facing.

We were able to move meditation, yoga and art therapy to a weekly online activity. The online programs proved to be popular, and we were able to provide a regular service for our patients during the restricted period. Our virtual programs were so popular that we have continued to offer these programs online. The online programs saw 163 occasions of services.

BRAVERY UNMASKED PROGRAMBravery Unmasked was postponed in 2020. Plans are in place for the exhibition to return bigger and better in 2022 for its fifth year.

SUPPORT GROUPSMany support groups take advantage of the unique space that is available in the wellness centre to host their group meetings. All oncology support groups employ a patient-centred approach, focussing on empowerment through education. Topics are designed to increase knowledge of cancer and build self-efficacy to achieve favourable quality of life. Most support groups were unfortunately cancelled during 2020, though a few of these groups took advantage of the online platform available to them. We look forward to welcoming all the support groups back during 2021.

Look Good Feel Better is a free national community service program run by the Cancer Patients Foundation, dedicated to teaching cancer patients how to manage the appearance-related side-effects caused by cancer treatment. In a practical workshop environment, demonstrations covering skin care, make-up and head wear leave participants empowered and ready to face their cancer diagnosis with confidence. During 2020 all face to face Look Good Feel Better programs were postponed and moved to an online workshop. Early 2021 saw a return to face to face programs across SWSLHD.

Four services are offered as part of the Look Good Feel Better program, and all have been developed with the purpose of empowering those undergoing cancer treatment by equipping them with the practical skills and knowledge needed to face their cancer diagnosis with confidence.

Face-to-face workshops: group workshops, currently held in 180 venues across Australia.

Home-Delivered Confidence Kits: Confidence Kits delivered directly to the homes of those cancer patients who are unable to attend a Look Good Feel Better workshop for health, travel or personal reasons.

Virtual Workshops: live and interactive online workshops on either Skincare and Make-up or Wigs and Headwear for those who prefer to learn in the comfort of their own home.

Confidence Consults: private consultations in the Sydney-based Look Good Feel Better National Office to accommodate those cancer patients who aren’t able to attend a workshop because of clashes with their treatment or work schedule, or who are uncomfortable in a group setting.

The ENRICHING Survivorship Program is an 8 week program provided by the Cancer Council and delivered by the hospital allied health staff. This program is a peer support, nutrition and exercise program, helping to restore physical and emotional wellbeing after cancer treatment. Current measurement of outcomes suggests the program has a positive impact on nutrition and exercise, and ultimately the overall health and wellbeing of cancer survivors and their support networks. During 2020 all programs were sadly cancelled due to COVID-19. The Enriching Survivorship Program will hopefully return to face-to-face during the second half of 2021 at Liverpool and early 2022 at Macarthur.


From July 2020 – June 2021 the Cancer Council Information Service at Liverpool Hospital was on hold as the volunteers who staff the service were unable to return due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The information service is provided in partnership with Liverpool, Macarthur and Bankstown Cancer Therapy Centres and usually offers an opportunity for cancer patients, carers, their friends and family to be provided with a range of information on specific cancer types, treatments and side effects, and support services available through Cancer Council.

During 2020-2021 nearly 540 calls were received from people living in the south western Sydney area to the 13 11 20 Cancer Council Information and Support line. Assistance provided through this line includes things such as emotional support for people going through cancer treatment and their families, and also practical assistance such as financial support, legal support, healthy living after cancer programs and in some areas of NSW transport to treatment services.

THE POSITIVE HEALTH PROJECTIn 2020, our Macarthur programs were on hold for a number of months, due to the pandemic, and also the redevelopment at Campbelltown Hospital. Unfortunately this led to us losing the outpatient’s gym space as a location for some of our programs. Without the use of a dedicated space, we were unable to hold yoga and meditation onsite at Campbelltown for the foreseeable future. During this time, the Positive Health Project relocated to a new and larger premises in Narellan. There was an opportunity for us to move meditation and yoga to this new space and we were able to offer these programs face to face again in early 2021, in a safe environment.

We are currently working closely with Hope and her team at the Positive Health Project to improve the patient experience, and outcomes though integrated care.

WIG SERVICEAlways a valued resource, our Volunteers Fiona and Robyn fit and style new wigs, which are purchased with donations throughout the year. They provide a happy face, and give confidence to those who use this precious gift. Although the service was faced with restrictions from Covid-19, we saw an increase in demand for the service throughout the year. A total of 205 patients accessed the wig service across SWSLHD.

We were delighted to be a beneficiary of 2020 Dry July fundraising, as well as generous donations received from 24hr Fight Against Cancer Macarthur. These donations support all of our programs that assist patients in managing their treatment, and health.

I’M DOING THINGS WITH BOTH HANDS NOW BECAUSE I’M IN LESS PAIN, I FEEL BETTER.


STUDIESThere are currently two Acupuncture projects taking place within the John Richard Kuhlmann (JRK) Wellness Centre at Liverpool.

The first study is a small feasibility study, looking to see if acupuncture helps the pain or discomfort some people suffer after surgery for breast cancer.

The second study is a collaboration between South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD) and University of Western Sydney (UWS). The study is looking at the benefits of acupuncture in cancer related pain. Both studies are due for completion later in 2021 with publication and findings due during 2022.

Macarthur’s acupuncture Program has been running since November 2019 but was suspended during the initial COVID lockdown period in 2020. Patients with diverse cancer diagnoses and treatments have presented with peripheral neuropathy, nausea, pain, fatigue and anxiety. Weekly acupuncture sessions are offered for a 7 week period, and statistical data is recorded at the outset and conclusion to assess the patient’s response to acupuncture. Sessions run for 60mins and involve the patient resting on the bed for at least 30mins. Needle location is determined according to Chinese Medicine theory and are individualised for each patient at the time. Patients report feeling calmer, well rested whilst in clinic, with noticeable improvements in certain symptoms over the course of treatment. Many patients ask if they can repeat the process! Contrary to common perceptions, acupuncture is not painful and can sometimes give patients immediate or temporary relief of their pain. No adverse events have been reported. Services are provided by an APHRA registered acupuncturist who regularly liaises with medical staff to achieve improved quality of life for patients.

Liverpool Acupuncture resumed at the JRK Wellness Centre toward the end of February 2021. It continues to be a very popular service and a wait list is maintained. Patients are offered a block of 8 weekly treatments. This is seen to be preferable to the previous system of ad hoc appointments as it allows a more comprehensive treatment plan to be developed and evaluation be carried out. During the COVID-19 related disruption to the service, Lisa Holden and Dr Eugene Moylan developed a feasibility study looking at acupuncture treatment of scars to treat post breast cancer pain. Ethics approval was obtained and recruitment to this study has commenced.

The Meditation program was running as an online program during part of 2020. We returned to face to face programs at an offsite premises thanks to The Positive Health Project. All participants have found this helpful to connect with others, and share their experiences. The Meditation program brings calm and peace during a time when life can be overwhelming. The sessions often continue into their daily life and many of the skills and techniques shared are tools they can use as often as required. Many of the participants have been attending since the program started, friendships have formed and they have spoken of the difference meditation has made for them in their life & with their family.

Liverpool Art Therapy recommenced in May 2021 after a long absence, offering support to cancer patients individually, or in a group format. The group is small after many months of Covid-19 isolation, but aims to reach out to patients to help with self-discovery, resilience and positive forward living. The group meets every second Wednesday.

We were lucky to be accepted as part of this year’s University of Wollongong (UOW) Capstone project. Capstones provide students with a way of integrating and applying knowledge and skills gained throughout their course. By applying their knowledge and skill to real world problems, Capstone assists students in developing a confident and professional identity necessary for a successful transition into the world of work. We currently have a working party comprising of a key stakeholder from the LHD and final year IT student from UOW working on a new website for the Wellness Centre. The new website will be launched in January 2022.

I WAS IN A BAD WAY WITH ANXIETY A COUPLE OF TIMES, BUT MUCH BETTER AFTER TREATMENT. MY DAUGHTER SAID ‘MUM, YOU ARE SO MUCH MORE RELAXED’. I DO HAVE EPISODES, BUT WHEN I COME HERE, EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT. I CAN GO BACK TO SLEEP AFTER WAKING WHICH I COULDN’T DO BEFORE.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSSWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

42 VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED TO OUR SERVICE IN 2020/2021

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021

LIVERPOOL VOLUNTEERSJoy MaloneyCarol KeoughJudy PoultonBetty Bell Janine Hannaford

BANKSTOWN VOLUNTEERSSanjay Lele

MACARTHUR VOLUNTEERSNoelene WrightToni StoddartLorraine Pirie

WELLNESS CENTRE & PROGRAM VOLUNTEERSDianne PerryJennifer JacksonDarren-John Martin

WIG LIBRARY & WIG SERVICE VOLUNTEERSRobyn CavanFiona Gould

LOOK GOOD FEEL BETTER VOLUNTEERSJanet TaylorKim CawthorneLyn JohnsonDonna Pethybridge

OUR VOLUNTEERS

PALLIATIVE CARE VOLUNTEERSActive (Active throughout 2020 to current)Barbara ChapmanGail WithersKerry WalkerHilda SedlanJanet PerryJoan CaseyMary CareyRajani NayakSusie Thomas

INACTIVE (COVID-19 SUSPENSION – TO DATE)Amani KaadanAngela PunBibi FaridaCarmen PecorariChristine PrestwidgeDenise ZankerJames ConnollyJawaria AdnanJudy SmithJunette CandussoKarisha KhalilKerry WheatleyMargaret RiceMarj SalterMilan MalunecMimmi DjordjevicNoelene WrightPam BockingRobert StewartRoman SkarskySandra SkarskySandra WalesToni StoddartYvonne Kerr

24PALLIATIVE CARE

VOLUNTEERS

ASSISTED PATIENTS AND FAMILIES TO NAVIGATE THEIR JOURNEY WITH US. WITHOUT THE THOUGHTFUL GIFT OF TIME FROM THESE INDIVIDUALS, OUR SERVICE WOULDN’T HAVE THE PERSONAL TOUCHES THEY PROVIDE.

INFORMAL & SPONTANEOUS VOLUNTEERS (ACTIVE THROUGHOUT 2020 TO CURRENT)Cathrine Cormie-McDonaldCheryl NelsonDoris CassarGail ClarkHeather DavieIngleburn Library Knitting Group LadiesLouise BroudouMadge MirandaMaralyn IwanczukNathan RebelloRita CordinaNatalie CordinaSheila AndersonSuzanne CattellValerie Dart


HIGHLIGHTS/SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTSThere have been many achievements throughout the year, despite the volunteer service being suspended.

One of which is the support received from the community through Informal and Spontaneous volunteering. These volunteers made and continue to make a significant difference in the lives of the palliative care patients and loved ones, from a distance, in a challenging and unprecedented year of COVID-19 and the restrictions and impacts that this has brought to health care in general.

ONLINE MUSIC PROGRAMThe virtual volunteer music program provided some much needed diversion for individual patients including those at End of life.

The spontaneity of the young adults who willingly gave young their time and expertise have demonstrated their adaptability, ability to be present in the moment, and comfortably interact in a palliative care environment.

Patients and their family member in attendance have expressed their heartfelt gratitude. This has demonstrated the impact music can have on dying patients.

As one family member remarked, “That was truly “music to my ears”, I can’t believe this young man would want to play and sing for me. Thanks for making my day”.

A total 35 dedicated hours were provided to 178 patients and 29 carers, through this program.

2020 CENTRE FOR VOLUNTEERING AWARDMary Carey won the Macarthur Senior Volunteer of the Year Award in September 2020. Mary turned her passion for needlework into practical support for hundreds of patients across the local health district. For well over 15+ years, Mary creates elegant and beautifully embroidered padded bags for patients to carry their syringe driver pumps. The pumps are used to administer medication. The bags do not look medical and give the patients the confidence to be mobile and independent .

SWSLHD PALLIATIVE CARE VOLUNTEER SERVICE


THE INTO THE DREAMING AND BUTTERFLY RESOURCE PROJECTIn August 2020 the ‘Into the Dreaming’ resource box was launched in the palliative care ward, Liverpool Hospital. Developed to provide a culturally safe space within a deceased Aboriginal patient’s hospital room to aid in supporting family/community to have Aboriginal furnishings and meaningful items around them during Sorry Business. The project is supported through the generosity of the volunteers on an informal and spontaneous basis, from our community. Three working parties have been formed so that the project is sustained.

In December both the “Butterfly” and “Into the Dreaming” resource boxes were extended to the Camden Hospital palliative Care Unit and received with appreciation by the clinical staff .

TO DATE, 436 HOURS, APPROXIMATELY 575 METERS OF FABRIC, 44 SETS OF RUNNERS AND 39 COVERLETS WERE DONATED TOWARDS THE PROJECTS.

The nurses feel humbled and rewarded through the feedback they receive from families.

“I’m speechless! Thank you for the beautiful patchwork comforter that you gave to my husband. We were so thrilled to think of all of you helping to make the patients in 4C feel a little better” Family Member

“Thank you to the wonderful palliative care volunteers, we felt comforted when we entered the room to say our final goodbye” Family Member

A Butterfly patchwork quilt was donated and launched during the 2021 National Palliative Care week. It will be placed as a wall hanging in the mortuary of the Liverpool Hospital in keeping with the “Butterfly” theme and to promote a more supportive environment for distressed and grieving families attending the mortuary .

BEREAVEMENT ACTIVITYSeven regular palliative care volunteers were recruited to volunteer through COVID-19 restrictions, adapting to COVID safe ways of working to maintain the Bereavement Activity. Maintaining the bereavement support activity is an important and essential component of care, at any time and particularly during the global viral pandemic. The impact of visiting restrictions in hospital and community settings, limited people at funerals, family who could not come from Interstate or overseas and no Memorial service has been felt. Families acknowledged through phone calls and written communication that they felt cared for and supported through the bereavement packs they received, telephone contact numbers to access support services, handwritten condolence cards and further more with a follow-up letter.


STATISTICS FOR THE PERIOD OF 1 JULY 2020 – 30 JUNE 2021 INDICATE:A total of 199.5 dedicated hours given to the activity and 3632 kms travelled.

TELEPHONE SUPPORT SERVICE FOR COMMUNITY CLIENTSTwo of our regular volunteers provided a total of 42 dedicated hours to support clients in their homes through weekly telephone chats.

We have missed the SWS Palliative Care Volunteer service presence in the hospital and community settings, in the last twelve months. Equally speaking, the volunteers have also missed interacting with patients, families/carers and staff, participating in activities and fundraising initiatives.

The clinical staff including nurses, medical and allied health expressed appreciation for the volunteer programs and contributions during the pandemic lockdowns. It gave them a sense of positivity and hope for their patients and themselves at a time filled with anticipation, fatigue and the unknown.

A TEAM COMPOSITION! The staff of the Palliative Care Ward, in Liverpool Hospital merrily came together to compete in the Liverpool Hospital Christmas Jingle. The lyrics, rewritten from the song by Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani ‘You Make it Feel like Christmas’ to demonstrate their gratitude for bringing them all safely through to Christmas. An emotional sense of camaraderie and kinship was strongly felt through their participation. It was a nice note to end a challenging year on

A total of $2313 was raised for the Christmas raffle fundraiser, through the generosity of staff and volunteers across the District.

This image demonstrates feedback received from the surveys conducted early this year. The aim, to check in with the volunteers during COVID-19 and gain an understanding on how safe they feel to return to the service, when the green light is received. Similarly a survey on staff was conducted to gain their perspective on what they feel is important to bring the volunteers safely back.

NEWS FROM THE CENTRE FOR VOLUNTEERINGThe Centre for Volunteering, in partnership with the Department of Communities and Justice, will launch the inaugural New South Wales State of Volunteering report on 21st July, 2021. The report showcases the characteristics of volunteers, volunteering and volunteer-involving organisations. Through empirical analysis the report quantifies the social, economic and cultural value that volunteering brings to New South Wales. The data will help all of us acknowledge the value of the thousands of volunteer-involving organisations and millions of volunteers across our State.


DONATIONSWe are grateful to the members of the Giác Huê Temple, Cabramatta for their perpetual donation in kind at Christmas time, to lift the spirits of our palliative care patients. A total of $4687 was received through the generosity of our community.

RECOGNITION5 YEARS SERVICE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Rajani Nayak accepted her lapel pin in a COVID safe manner. She continued to provide support throughout COVID-19 with the bereavement activity.

Giac Hue Temple members Sista Group C/-Sydney Trains

Tissa Perera presenting cheque on behalf of Rotary Liverpool West

Jo and John Heard present cheque to Dr Desi Secombe and Palliative Care registered nurse Lesly Regalado

PROJECTS ON HOLDMemories program – to capture stories of patients who wish to leave a legacy for their loved ones

Launch of the Service in Campbelltown Hospital

FUTURE PROJECTS/EXPANSION OF SERVICES z Music Legacy program

z Recruitment of CaLD volunteers


26 RESEARCH GRANTS RECEIVED

OUR SUPPORTERSDonations have been received for many purposes, including Cancer Research, Wellness, Patient Care, Wigs, Transport, Education, Palliative Care Volunteer activities, Building enhancements and Equipment.

120INDIVIDUAL AND ORGANISATIONAL

DONORS

PALLIATIVE CARE – DONORS FOR THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAM $15,515Community donors

Aunty Poppys

Giác Huê Temple, Cabramatta

Jo & John Heard

Rotary Club, Liverpool West

Sista Group C/- Sydney Trains

Aunty’s Poppy’s Liverpool

Cheryl Porter-Pedras

May Nguyen

Phu dai ta

Real Equity-First National Real Estate

Reyan Amerasinghe

Rotary Club Of Liverpool

Thuy Phung

TM Quach

Palliative Care Volunteers - Southern Sector

Ragina Naidu Sista Group -C/o Sydney Rails Liverpool

J. Heard

BANKSTOWN CANCER THERAPY CENTRE - $38,782Dry July 2020

Vicki Mangu

Thiep Bui

Donington Gardens

MACARTHUR CANCER THERAPY CENTRE - $135,83424hour Fight Against Cancer

Anthony and Louise Tesoriero

Camden RSL Club

Catherine Huitt

Darren Condon

Debbie Byrne

Helen Brinck

Ingleburn Knitting Group

Macarthur L Alfonsi

Macarthur Veteran Golfers Asso INC

Malulee FIK

MC Gift Fund

Miss J L Miles

Nidhi Sharma

Phan Phoeurn Family & Friends

Marsha & Robert Mussett

Brian Willott

Irene Norris

John & Cathie Richardson

Macarthur OWN

Doug Ford

John & Michelle Sulman

Ray Griffiths

Robert Ziems

Tanya Smith

Robert & Marsha Mussett

Dry July 2020

J. Williamson

Debbie Byrne

Maria Campton & Jill Standen - Cobbity Park Christian Retirement Village

Jasmine Coleiro

Camden Womens Bowling Club

Robyn Sutton

$413,650 IN DONATIONS


LIVERPOOL CANCER SERVICES - $220,328Ascent Luxury Cosmetics

Canh Philip

Chetan Kochhar

Gech Kim

Hai Ly

Hanadi Charafeddine

Hang To

Hiu Man Lam

Huong Thi Thu Hong

Hwalia Giang

Liverpool Jaison Mangahis

Lyn Au

Nancy Green

Nawar I Shadood

Pedro Ruz

Phan Quoc Lam- Mrs Nguyen

Quoc Ly

Randa Mikha

Stephen Thomas Doyle

Tan Le

Thi Tran

Thi Duyen Tran

Thi Phan

Tule Giang

Vanda

Thu Tran

Alesia Michael Retail Projex

Thi Dang

Kon Leang Tang

Amne Ghazzaoui

Quoc Lam Huynh

Thi Kim Lan

Bronko Hoang

Camelia Stevens

Anita Jabro

Dry July 2020

Lip Canh

Thi Mot Dang

Wayne Hoa Luu

Sieu Muoi Ly

KR Chandra

Merrylands RSL

Thi Hung Pham

Leeann Jiang

Phu Dai Ta

Ba Khanh Van

CAMDEN PALLIATIVE CARE WARD - $3,170Coffee Ladies Group O/C Hazel Potts

Evelyn Zammit

Rotary Club of Camden

Irene Norris

Palliative Care Volunteers - Southern Sector


Fida Hajar - Fida keeps the Bankstown Cancer Therapy Centre running and improving. She is always helpful, always willing to go above and beyond for all those who rely on her. She does this with increasingly inadequate space and staff but with an abundance of patience, kindness and efficiency

DENISE LONERGAN PERPETUAL AWARD 2020Stephanie Robinson - Stephanie has been a valued member of the Cancer Therapy Centre team. She displayed outstanding levels of compassion, conscientiousness and professionalism during her time with us. The kindness, patience & care Stephanie demonstrated to patients was felt by all. She was an excellent asset to the Radiation Oncology Department and we wish her every success as she completes her Palliative Care training

STAFF WELLNESS AWARD 2020 – JARRAD BEGGJarrad is a passionate and dedicated medical physicist. His willingness to help his fellow colleagues and his positive outlook is inspiring. He is always respectful in the way he communicates with everyone and always maintains professionalism. When solving clinical problems/challenges, Jarrad ensures that not only a solution is found but he tries to also educate and learn from the situation to empower his colleagues to manage the challenge themselves (if possible). He is also passionate about not only his own learning but that of others and is willing to help both staff and students. Whilst undertaking his own PhD studies, he also took on the supervision of a medical physics registrar, providing support throughout her training and helping her navigate and remain calm during the final exams within the unprecedented situation presented by COVID-19.

He genuinely cares about his colleagues as displayed by various acts of kindness, e.g. checking on a colleague when they have had a bad day, offering to help without being asked etc. When faced with conflicts, he handles them kindly and professionally, avoiding any tensions. We need more people like Jarrad in our workplace and lives.

This award is a small gesture of thank you from everyone that has experienced Jarrad’s acts of kindness.

Jarrad cares about his work and fellow colleagues. He always makes the extra effort to not only complete his work to a high standard, but also to educate and empower those around him. He has demonstrated this through his positive interactions and responses to queries from patients and other staff members. As well as his ongoing commitments to registrar and staff training.

Jarrad works above and beyond what is normally expected. On numerous occasions he has put in extra unpaid overtime to tune the linacs so that they are ‘just right’; rather than simply meeting the minimum benchmarks. Even spending a whole weekend to return systems to clinical use, so as to not disrupt patient’s treatments.

Jarrad is an exemplar in the promotion of workplace safety, having volunteered to be the physics WH&S officer and regularly auditing staff on WH&S matters.

OUR VALUED EMPLOYEES

411STAFF EMPLOYED BY SWSLHD CANCER SERVICES

23STUDENTS ACTIVELY

INVOLVED IN POSTGRADUATE

RESEARCH, PHDS.


BANKSTOWN VALUED EMPLOYEES FOR 2020/21 z Aileen Wu

z Sri Jasti

z Fida Hajar

z Ray Asghari

z Ntombizami Nyathi

z Patricia Jones

z Anjana Thapa

z Nicole Weekes

MACARTHUR VALUED EMPLOYEES FOR 2020/21A mighty big congratulations to Denise Burns, who celebrated her 50th year in nursing this year! A fantastic achievement. One of Campbelltown Hospital’s most inspirational and long-serving nursing leaders is celebrating her 50th year in the profession she loves.

Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre’s Nursing Unit Manager Denise Burns has many wonderful memories of her nursing career, including starting work at Prince Henry Hospital in January 1970 and moving on to cancer care in 1976.

z July 2020 – Katie Knight

z August 2020 – Emma Latham

z September 2020 – William Joy

z October 2020 - Josephine Cannon

z November 2020 – Melissa Fox

z January 2021 - Chloe Davidson

z February 2021 - Bernadette De Souza

z March 2021 - Cindy Taylor

z April 2021 - Vanessa Williamson

z May 2021 - Lee Angeles

z June 2021 - Samara Price

LIVERPOOL VALUED EMPLOYEES FOR 2020/21 z July 2020 - Rachel Brookes

z August 2020 - David Warner

z September 2020 - Daniel Markiewicz

z October 2020 - Sarah Payne

z November 2020 - Jared Begg

z December 2020 - Ashley Franklin

z January 2021 - Kirsten Brassel

z February 2021 - Debra Garreffa

z March 2021 - Lisa-Marie Roberts

z April 2021 - Shihedah Fahel

z May 2021 - Joan Losloso

z June 2021 - Anthony Espinoza

“THE DEDICATION OF OUR STAFF IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE OUTSTANDING CARE WE PROVIDE TO OUR PATIENTS EVERY DAY.”


This year, the following staff are recognised for their service.

10 YEARSAchamma Roy

Allan Yabut

Amanda Margharitis

Annamma Abraham

Charmaine O’Connor

Christine Kumar

Clara Inkyung Lee

Deborah Alice Forsyth

Deborah Denholm

Gail Dwyer

Glen Dinsdale

Karen Lim

Kelly Mok

Lara Chen

Leah Baker

Mandeep Kaur

Mei Yap

Michelle Bui

Ntombizami Nyathi

Penny Phan

Reme Clarke

Roland Nguyen

Samuel Hughes

Swastika Rajan

Thi Thu Phuong Lai

15 YEARSAmy Wholohan

Astrid Przezdziecki

Carmen Cueva

Elizabeth Teng Yoke Chow

Ian McCrossin

Jacqueline Kerfoot

Jodie Peronchik

Kathy Andrew

Lesly Regalado

Mahbuba Sharmin

Mariad O’Gorman

Mark Sidhom

Melanie Rennie

Naomi Ellis

Nardy Lucero

Sabina Karic

Sckertting Friutos

Skye De Gruyter

Sladjana Starcevic

Steven Tran

20 YEARSAnnie Lau

Fida Hajar

Jayne Iveson

Joanne Veneran

Louise Elliott

Mafizul Hoque

Pippa Richards

Rhonda Eke

Sharelle Ioannou

25 YEARSAgnesh Prasad

Angela Berthelsen

Daniel Moretti

Gai Fairnham

Holanda Bentancor

Jennifer Wiltshire

Lindsay Dunlop

Sharon Linden

LONG SERVICE AWARDS

RESEARCH SWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021

RESEARCH

26 SIGNIFICANT RESEARCH GRANTS AWARDED TOTALLING $15,660,644

20 AWARDS

23 STAFF ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN POSTGRADUATE PHDS

55 CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

149 PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

22 INVITED SPEAKER PRESENTATIONS

RESEARCHSWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021

CLINICAL TRIALS

Despite limited access to clinics, the enrolments to clinical trials remained comparable to previous years.

LIVERPOOL MEDICAL ONCOLOGY TRIALSThe LCTC Medical Oncology Clinical Trials Unit has built on the strong growth over the previous years. There are currently 40 clinical trials open to recruitment across all tumour groups, with a further 10 set to open in a few months. The unit is increasing in visibility and prominence to industry and over the last six months, the unit has received over 100 new feasibilities for potential clinical trials for assessment. In particular, the Liverpool Early Phase Trials unit (LEAP) continues to perform well with over 25 patient visits per week and nursing capacity is building quickly. Dr Abhijit Pal, recently returned from a fellowship in early phase clinical trials at the Royal Marsden Hospital Drug Development Unit in the United Kingdom was appointed Director of the Early Phase Trials unit this year. In addition, the clinical trials team is actively interested in improving access to clinical trials for patients in SWSLHD and this is particularly relevant in our unique culturally and linguistically diverse population. Under the leadership of Professor Wei Chua, Director of Clinical Trials, and Megan Ford, Executive Director of Clinical Trials, the unit continues to proactively seek collaboration with the scientists at the Ingham Institute and has met with multiple key industry sponsors this year to enhance our ability to attract high quality clinical trials and perform internationally competitive research in South Western Sydney.

200OPEN TRIALS

361NEW PATIENTS

RECRUITED

2020/21 TRIALS ACTIVITY


MACARTHUR CLINICAL TRIALS UNITMCTU have maintained staffing levels this year and the number of clinical trials available to our patients increase. We continue to recruit patients to every open clinical trial.

RADIATION ONCOLOGY CLINICAL TRIAL ACTIVITIESRadiation Oncology Clinical trials has 19 trials open for recruitment including 4 trials activated over the last 12 months. The team also provides trial data support to 5 other clinical trials led by coordinating units across the district. There are approximately 12 projects in the pipeline to be activated including a patient recruiting study utilising the MRI-Linac for patient treatment. With the addition of 2 new staff, the team still maintains the diverse skills within the unit, with a heavier weighted ratio of radiotherapy background. The team has faced a number of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but has returned to business as usual in 2021 with greater appreciation of virtual connections and over 90 participants recruited since 1st July 2020.

Ongoing work is continuing to analyse the main reasons for ineligibility to studies, identify roadblocks and finding potential strategies to improve or overcome issues in recruitment, especially in the CALD environment. The future direction of expanding our portfolio of studies is progressing with potential participation in international collaborative studie.

HAEMATOLOGY CLINICAL TRIALSClinical Trials remain very active under the leadership of Pinky Patel (Haematology Clinical Trials Manager) and Adam Bryant (Chair of Haematology Clinical Trials Committee). The current workforce is five study coordinators including the Clinical Trials Manager, with 13 clinical trials open during 2020.


PHD AWARDEDThe Role of Surgery in Cancer Treatment: development of a valid and adaptable benchmark rate of optimal surgical utilisation and measurement of complexity of cancer surgery. Dr Sathira Perera

Supervisors: Scientia Professor Michael Barton, Dr Susannah Jacob

Surgery plays a vital role in the treatment of cancer; however, access to appropriate surgical treatment varies widely internationally. It is important to determine the demand for cancer surgery for a population in order to plan the cancer service needs of a population. An optimal utilisation rate for surgery in the management of all cancers has not been reported in the literature to date.

This project developed optimal rates of utilisation of surgery for cancer in Australia (all cancer and individual cancer sites) that can be used as benchmarks for the planning and assessment of cancer service provision. The different levels of surgical complexity required in the surgical treatment of cancer were predicted in the optimal surgical utilisation model. Global demand for cancer surgery and

an estimate of the optimal surgical and anesthesia workforce between 2018 and 2040 were calculated.

AWARDSDr Vikneswary Batumalai awarded:Early Career Researcher Award (2020) by Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research.

Paper of the Year (Epidemiological/Health Services Research) 2020 by University of New South Wales for the paper titled: Estimating the cost of radiotherapy for 5-year local control and overall survival benefit.

Outstanding Contribution to Research - Early Career (2020) by University of New South Wales.

Professor Michael Barton awarded:Distinguished Research Award (2020) by University of New South Wales South Western Sydney Precinct.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORSCCORE researchers continue their PhD research during 2020/2021.Dr Mei Ling Yap – ‘Actual radiotherapy utilization and appropriateness of cancer care in NSW’. Commenced Sept 2015.

COLLABORATION FOR CANCER OUTCOMES, RESEARCH & EVALUATION

SCIENTIA PROFESSOR MICHAEL BARTON OAMScientia Professor UNSW Medicine

Research DirectorCollaboration for Cancer Outcomes Research & Evaluation (CCORE)


Supervisors: Professor Michael Barton, Professor Dianne O’Connell

Dr Penelope Mackenzie – ‘Geriatric Oncology and Radiotherapy Utilisation in New South Wales’. Commenced October 2019.

Supervisors: Professor Michael Barton, Professor Geoff Delaney, A/Professor Claire Vajdic, Professor Meera Agar, A/Professor Tracy Comans

Dr Brooke Wilson – ‘Understanding the utility of chemotherapy and targeted treatments for cancer in low- and middle-income countries’. Commenced February 2020.

Supervisors: Professor Michael Barton, Sallie Pearson, Eitan Amir.

Student research projects (ILP and Honours):Survival prediction in non-small cell lung cancer (publication in progress).

Supervisors: Dr Jesmin Shafiq and Professor Shalini Vinod

PhD Research supervision by CCORE researchers during 2020/2021.Wsam Ghandourh – ‘Estimating current and future demands for sterotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) in the Australian lung cancer population’.

Supervisors: A/Prof Lois Holloway, Dr Susannah Jacob (Joint), Dr Vikneswary Batumalai

CCORE RESEARCH PROJECTS - CURRENT AND FUTURE PROJECTSSurgery and radiotherapy utilisation for breast cancer in New South Wales and ACTThis research study aims to identify the actual surgery and radiotherapy utilisation rate for breast cancer in NSW and ACT through secondary analyses of linked population-based cancer registry and radiotherapy department datasets. Analyses involves comparison of breast cancer actual radiotherapy utilisation rate with that to the published evidence-based optimal radiotherapy utilisation rate, identify factors that predict for underutilisation and estimate the effect of underutilisation on overall survival and local control.

Evaluation of State-wide radiotherapy services, manuscript preparation in progress for publication in a peer reviewed journal.

The value of first line chemotherapy and targeted therapy in the treatment of lung cancerTo study aims to investigate the value (survival benefit and cost) of first line chemotherapy and targeted therapy in lung cancer at a population level.

Based on guideline recommendations a model of optimal utilisation was constructed for first line chemotherapy and targeted therapy in lung cancer. The survival benefit and average cost of all regimens recommended for each treatment indication will be calculated at 5 years and at 10 years.

This has implications in the health care system for governments and other payers to assess the value of an intervention when developing drug funding strategies.

Using big data to reduce inappropriate radiotherapy fractionationThis research study aims to identify and quantify variation in radiotherapy fractionation in NSW; and identify factors that predict deviation from evidence-based guidelines. The results will be used to target low value care, and pilot an intervention to reduce unwarranted variation.

This research will provide new data on the way in which radiotherapy is delivered in Australia and on the factors affecting the choice and outcome of the treatment and has the potential to phase our low-value care in radiotherapy.

A comparison of adverse event profiles in systemic treatment of advanced NSCLC: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Three systemic treatment options are effective in the management of patients with metastatic or advanced NSCLC. They are:

z traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy

z targeted therapies that act on specific genetic driver mutations associated with lung cancer

z immune checkpoint inhibitors such as PD-1, PD-L1 or CTLA-4 that stimulate the immune response against the tumour (immunotherapy).

The study will evaluate and compare the efficacy and adverse event profiles of immunotherapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy as reported in randomised controlled trials in the treatment of advance NSCLC.

Population based estimation of cost and benefit of radiotherapy for cancerThis research study sims to quantify the average per capita cost of radiotherapy and to obtain a ratio of cost per local control

and overall survival benefit of radiotherapy stratified by cancer stage of diagnosis using contemporary local data. An activity-based costing method will be applied to estimate the cost of delivery of 1st course of radiotherapy at different stage of the disease and compare with the benefits achievable optimally. This study proposal is in the initial stage of planning.

COMPLETED CCORE RESEARCH PROJECTS DURING 2020/2021Radiotherapy service need in the Pacific Island CountriesThis research study aims to provide an estimation of the effect of establishing new radiotherapy facilities on patient access to radiotherapy services. Modelling of cancer incidence and radiotherapy demand in the Pacific Island Countries and Territories are being investigated to estimate how the best location for a new radiotherapy centre may be chosen when there are multiple competing locations including a few existing ones covering the region.

Evaluation and increased awareness for radiotherapy services in low- and middle-income countries, manuscript published in Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology.

STUDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS (ILP AND HONOURS)Translation of Multidisciplinary Team Meeting (MDM) recommendations into clinical practice across different tumour types (completed and published)

SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS GAINED FOR CANCER PATIENTS FROM CCORE RESEARCH PROJECTS


RESEARCH PROJECTS WERE UNDERTAKEN BY CCORE RESEARCH PROJECT MANAGERS

z Australian MRI Linac Program

z MRI Biomarkers for therapeutic response prediction in rectal cancer

z Global cancer burden and access to radiotherapy

z Testing criterion-based benchmarking for the appropriate use of radiotherapy

z Patterns of retreatment by radiotherapy for breast cancer and lymphoma

z Assessment of cardiotoxicity following cancer treatment using MRI, echo and serum biomarkers

z Effect of travel distance on radiotherapy utilisation Criterion–based benchmark of the appropriate use of radiotherapy in NSW & ACT

z Treatment response in head and neck cancers using multi-parametric MRI (ADC and DWI)

z A feasibility study investigating the utility of applying the ESMO Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (MCBS) to the case of radiotherapy for selected cancers (Breast and Lung cancer)

z Impact of radiotherapy underutilisation measured by survival shortfall, years of potential life lost and disability-adjusted life years lost

z The cost of radiotherapy for 5-year local control and overall survival benefit

z Variation in the use of palliative radiotherapy fractionation for bone and brain metastases

z Targeting cancer heterogeneity with ultra-high MRI

z Radiotherapy using machine learning


Established in July 2014 as part of the Cancer Institute NSW initiative for Translational Cancer Research Centres (TCRCs), CONCERT is a unifying body for cancer research conducted across the South Western Sydney, Illawarra Shoalhaven and ACT local health districts.

CONCERT exists to bring together the knowledge and expertise of cancer health professionals, researchers and the community to facilitate translation of research generated evidence into practice and policy to achieve better outcomes for those affected by cancer.

CONCERT’s Strategic Plan 2019-2021 encompasses many of the SWSLHD Cancer Services’ priorities, and is focussed on `Connecting Our Cancer Community’, `Building a Superior High-Performance Cancer Workforce’, `Planning for the Future’, and `Investing in Cancer Research Excellence & Innovation’ by prioritising cancer research into our Communities (CALD, Regional and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders), Poor Outcomes Cancers (Gastro-Intestinal, Neurological and Lung) and Personalising Therapy (Cancer Therapy and Comorbidities, Multidisciplinary Team Meetings and Quality of Care and Use of Biobanked Material).

Our research is further organised into the following Flagship Programs:

CENTRE FOR ONCOLOGY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH TRANSLATION (CONCERT )

SCIENTIA PROFESSOR MICHAEL BARTON OAMScientia Professor UNSW Medicine

Research DirectorCollaboration for Cancer Outcomes Research & Evaluation (CCORE)

Targets & Therapeutics (T1/T2): Led by CONCERT Deputy Director, Professor Marie Ranson, it is aimed at determining what is different about an individual’s cancer and targeting treatment to those differences. It encompasses the following programs: MRI-Linac, Circulating Tumour Cell Diagnostics & Research (CCDR), CONCERT Biobank, Cancer Cohorts/Biomarker & Drug Discovery & Development and Clinical Translational Informatics System (CTIS).

Policy & Practice (T2/T3): Led by CONCERT Deputy Director, Dr Allen `Ben’ Smith, it is aimed at rapidly translating research evidence into policy and practice and ensuring equitable access to evidence-based care for all people affected by cancer.

It encompasses the following programs: Psycho- Oncology, Clinical Trials and Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes, Research & Evaluation (CCORE).

INVESTMENTS IN RESEARCH TRANSLATION Continued investment of $300,000 over 2 years towards 2 Seed Grants directly relevant to clinical, health service and population health cancer practice. Recipients were Professor Minoti Apte of the Pancreatic Research Group for her novel research into identifying biomarkers for patients at risk of developing pancreatic cancer as well as new therapeutic targets to prevent progression to, and of, overt pancreatic cancer.

Dr Tamiem Adam, a Medical Oncologist at Liverpool Hospital, for his work into new and less-invasive ways to test patients for their suitability to undergo immunotherapy for cancer treatment. The study will focus on patients starting immunotherapy for lung, bladder and kidney cancers.


$150,000 for 2 years towards a Translational Seed Grant which had the potential to be generalised and scaled across at least 2 local health districts and potential to reduce time from evidence generation to practice implementation. PROMPT-Care led by Professor Afaf Girgis and Professor Geoff Delaney was the successful recipient, which will allow the roll out of this eHealth system across South West Sydney and Illawarra Shoalhaven local health districts.

$100,000 for 2 Early Career Researcher Seed Grants led by chief investigators no more than 10 years post-PhD or most recent specialist recognition. Recipients included Dr Kara Vine-Perrow for her work on a novel drug delivery strategy which enables the administration of a combination of agents directly to a pancreatic tumour. This approach switches the immune system back on, increasing the accumulation and effectiveness of immunotherapy within the lesion and reduces off-target effects.

Dr Gabriel Gabriel, for his work on investigating the disparity between cancer survival rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and that of non-Aboriginal Australians. The factors which contribute to poorer survival rates in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders include more advanced disease at diagnosis, higher rates and comorbidity and less access to medical services. This study will be the first of its kind in NSW and will inform recommendations to improve cancer outcomes for Aboriginal people.

New investment of $116,000 for 3 Infrastructure Awards Grants led by Chief Investigators Ann-Katrin Piper, Wollongong University for the project ‘Taking 3D cultures to the next level: capacity building with two new incute specialist software modules to faciliate high-end organoids and spheroids analyses’; Dr Shrikant Deshpande, Liverpool Hospital for the project ‘Development of an in-house framework to build, validate and deploy deep learning models for auto-segmentation of radiation therapy planning outcomes’, and Dr Shivani Kumar for the project ‘Improving patient outcomes with state-of-the-art Magnetic Resonance Imaging’.

HIGHLIGHTSCONCERT Strategy Plan 2019-2021 development has coordinated efforts across 10 organisations including three local health districts and facilitated access to cancer MDT meetings.

CONCERT Website has enhanced engagement with our cancer experts, with membership growing from 290 to 379; a 31% increase in the last 24 months. The website features a CONCERT team and member each month and showcases recently published work.

Collaboration with SPHERE Cancer Clinical Academic Group (CAG), Translational Cancer Research Network (TCRN) and SWS Research (SWSR) Hub has increased knowledge sharing with a fortnightly newsletter that has a 65% engagement rate and reaches over 1200 people.

The CONCERT Biobank has collected over 30,000 specimens from over 2,500 donors. It has supported over 40 cancer research projects, including 4 clinical trials and CONCERT Biobank supported studies have published 35 articles, with 386 citations and a current h-index of 12.

Implementation of the CONCERT education strategy to foster sharing of knowledge and expertise among members from diverse disciplines and backgrounds. The CONCERT Roundtables are an example of an initiative under this strategy and the monthly forum regularly brings together over 70 cancer researchers and clinicians from across the network.

Leading the Implementation Science Community of Practice and bringing together expertise from across all 7 TCRCs

FUTURE PLANSThe funding for CONCERT ends on 30 June 2021. CONCERT will merge under the SPHERE Cancer Clinical Academic Group and will contribute to a new $7M Cancer Institute NSW Research Capacity Building awarded to Professor Geoff Delaney.

ACHIEVEMENTS SWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021

ACHIEVEMENTS 9 ACADEMIC

ACHIEVEMENTSAlnaghy S: High resolution radiation dosimetry in an MRI-Linac using novel silicon array detectors PhD Supervisor: Metcalfe P: University of Wollongong 2020

Bell L: Reducing Tumour Volume Uncertainty for the Benefits of Radiation Therapy Cancer Patients PhD Supervisor: Holloway L: University of Wollongong 2020

Bray V: Associate Professor, Conjoint Associate Professor at Western Sydney University School of Medicine 2021

Buckley J: Towards MRI-Guided Gantry-Free Radiation Therapy: Quantifying Deformation and Patient Tolerance. PhD Supervisor:/s Liney GD, J; Whelan, B; Metcalfe, P, Holloway, L; Keall, P: University of Wollongong: 2021

Finnegan R: Deformable image registration for multi-modality image-based radiotherapy treatment planning and verification PhD Supervisor: Holloway L: University of Sydney: 2020

Kasraei F: F.R.A.N.Z.C.R. RANZCR: 2020

KOH ES: Associate Professor, South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Faculty of Medicine 2020

Perera S: The Role of Surgery in Cancer Treatment: development of a valid and adaptable benchmark rate of optimal surgical utilisation and measurement of complexity of cancer surgery Doctor of Philosophy Supervisor:/s Barton M, Jacob S: UNSW: 2021

Roberts N: Dosimetry and 4D Modelling for Advanced Radiotherapy Treatments: Towards MRI-Guided Lung SBRT PhD Supervisor: Holloway L: University of Wollongong 2020

20 AWARDSBarton M: Distinguished Research Prize Distinguished Research Prize Clinical School Precinct South Western Sydney Australia 2020

Batumalai V, Shafiq J, Hanna T, Gabriel G, Herbele J, Koprivic I, Kaadan N, King O, Tran T, Cassapi L et al: Estimating the cost of radiotherapy for 5 year local control and overall survival benefit Health Services Paper of the Year Sydney, Australia: 2020

Batumalai V: Early Career Research Award Early Career Research Award Ingham Institute Sydney, UNSW Medicine and Health: Clinical School and Precinct South Western Sydney, Australia 2020

Batumalai V: Outstanding contribution for an Early Career Researcher Outstanding contribution for an Early Career Researcher UNSW Sydney, Australia 2020

Begg J: Staff Wellness Award Staff Wellness Award SWSLHD Cancer Services Annual General Meeting Virtual Meeting, 23/10/2020

Care MPCV: Senior Volunteer of the Year Centre for Volunteering - NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards, Sydney, Australia 09/2020

Della-Fiorentina S: Medal of Australia - Service to Oncology: Medal of Australia Sydney, Queen’s Birthday Celebrations, Australia 06/2021

Dry July Team: Consistent Generosity in fundraising for Cancer Community Partner’s Award SWSLHD Annual Public Meeting: Sydney, Australia 2020

Gabriel G: Discovering the reasons for inequity in cancer outcomes between aboriginal and non-aboriginal people in Australia, CONCERT Member of the Month CONCERT Sydney, Australia 09/2020

Hajar F: Staff Wellness Award SWSLHD Cancer Services Annual General Meeting Virtual: 23/10/2020

Liu P, Ge Y, Dong B, Liney G, Nguyen DT, Newson E, Waddington DEJ, O’Brien R, Keall P: First Experimental Investigation of Simultaneously Tracking two independently moving targets on an MRI-Linac using real-time MRI and MLC Tracking Best in Physics (Multi-disciplinary): AAPM 2020 Virtual Meeting: 12/07/2020

Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre: Best Public Cancer Centre in NSW and the best in South Western Sydney Local Health District: Bureau of Health Information: Sydney, Australia: 12/2020

MOSAIQ Support team: Modernising

Consenting: The Implementation of

Signature Pads and Electronic Consent

Forms to Liverpool Cancer Therapy

Centre: Excellence in provision of non-

clinical services: SWSLHD Quality Awards:

Liverpool Hospital: 2020

Pang T: The role of circulating pancreatic

stellate cells and circulating tumour

cells in pancreatic cancer Outstanding

Contribution to Research - HDR Candidate

2020 UNSW SWS Research Prize Recipients:

Sydney, Australia 25/11/2020

Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses (Ngo,

D, Beverley, S): Medal by the Australian

Governor General: International Nurses Day:


Roach D: Outstanding contribution to

research by a higher degree student UNSW


Robinson S: Denise Lonergan Perpetual

Award SWSLHD Cancer Services Annual

General Meeting Virtual: 23/10/2020

Sebaratnam D: Finalist: Anthea Kerr

Award: NSW Premier’s Award Evening:


Waddington D: Accelerating Image

Reconstruction on an MRI-Linac with

AUTOMAP Best in Physics - Oral

Presentation AAPM Virtual conference

based in America 07/2020

Zientara N: Award for Best student in the

Bachelor of Medical Radiation Science

(Radiation Therapy) Program 01/03/2021

55 CONFERENCESAlharthi T: An evaluation of the IQM signal

response and error detection sensitivity for

patient specific pre-treatment QA. EPSM

11/02/2020; Virtual Conference EPSM Oral

Presentation

Aly F, Vinod S, Holloway L, Sundaresan

P, Field M: External validation of larynx

cancer outcome prediction model in an

Australian cohort and impact data curation

on model performance. RANZCR 2021

ASM: 16/09/2021; Virtual RANZCR; Oral

Presentation

ACHIEVEMENTSSWSLHD CANCER SERVICES ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021

Archibald-Heeran B, Yuen J, Gray A, Yeo

A, Deshpande S, Byrne M, Jameson M: A freely available standardised adaptive evaluation report EPSM 11/02/2020; Virtual Conference EPSM Oral Presentation

Batumalai V, Jameson M, King O, Waler

R, Slater C, Dundas K, Dinsdale G, Wallis

A, Ochoa C, Gray R et al: Cautiously Optimistic: A survey of radiation oncology professionals’ perceptions of automation ESTRO 2020: 28/11/2020; Vienna, Austria - Virtual Meeting ESTRO Oral Presentation

Batumalai V, Wong K, Descallar J, G G,

Shafiq J, Delaney G, Vinod S, Barton

M: Trends in the use of short-course radiotherapy for rectal cancer in New South Wales, Australia RANZCR 2021 ASM: 16/09/2021; Virtual: RANZCR; Oral Presentation

Beavan MD, Kylie; Hudson, Felicity;

Surjan, Yolanda; Lau, Annie; Deshpande,

Shrikant; Lim, Karen; Do, Viet: Retrospective dosimetric analysis of bone marrow sparing volumetric modulated arc therapy in gynaecologic patients. ASMIRT: 31/05/2021; virtual: ASMIRT; Oral Presentation

Begg J, Jelen U, Liney G, Holloway L: Magnetic Field Correction Factors via Cross Calibration using Micro Diamond detector. EPSM 11/02/2020; Virtual Conference EPSM Oral Presentation

Begg J, Jelen U, Liney G, Holloway L:

Magnetic Field correction factors via a cross-calibration using a conventional Linac; MRinRT: 20/04/2021; Virtual: MRinRT; Oral Presentation

Begg J: Interaction of Radiation with Matter. RANZCR Phase 1 Training Program: 19/06/2021; Virtual Conference: RANZCR; Oral Presentation

Bright C: Mapping the tumour heterogeneity with multi parametric MRI: changing the paradigm of radiotherapy treatments of brain cancer. University of Queensland Centre for Advanced Medical Imaging Research Seminar: 21/03/2021; Queensland, Australia University of Queensland Oral Presentation

Brown E, Dundas K, Surjan Y, Miller D,

Lim K, Boxer M, Ahern V, Papadatos G,

Batumalai V, Harvey J et al: Does clearer vision lead to differences in target and OAR doses in partial breast irradiation? ASMIRT: 31/05/2021; Virtual: ASMIRT; Oral Presentation

Carr M, Jameson M, Rumley C, Liney G,

Lee M, Chiap P, Metcalfe P, Holloway L:

Parameter induced variations in DCE MRI Analysis: Monitoring Treatment Response for Head and Neck Tumours ISMRM 08/08/2020; Virtual Conference ISMRM Poster

Carr M, Metcalfe P, Rai R, Holloway

L: Assessing the variability of MRI

derived quantitative parameters used in

radiotherapy treatment planning. EPSM


Presentation

Chiap P, Dowling J, Field M, Finnegan R,

Cloak K, Lee M, Leong T, Chu J, Tan J,

Tram P et al: Atlas vs Deep Learning based

Auto-segmentation of the Clinical target

Volume for Automated Contour QA in a

Gastric Cancer Clinical Trial Med Phys 20

12/02/2020; Virtual Conference Med Phys

20; Oral Presentation

Chiap P, Dowling J, Field M, Finnegan R,

Cloak K, Lee M, Leong T, Chu J, Tan J,

Tram P et al: Auto-segmentation of the

Clinical Target Volume in a Gastric Cancer

Clinical Trial EPSM 11/02/2020; Virtual

Conference EPSM Oral Presentation

Chiap P, Finnegan R, Holloway L:

Deploying auto-segmentation tools in clinic:

A flexible robust scalable framework. EPSM


Presentation

Choong C, Vial P, Arumugam S, Lau A,

Wallis A: Increasing vision with daily breast

CBCT: 12-month post-implementation

experience ASMIRT: 31/05/2021; Virtual:

ASMIRT; Oral Presentation

Collier N, Oar A, Ng W, Johnston M, Ma

Y, Becker T, Apte M, Pavey D, Arumugam

S, Merrett N et al: An Australian Three-

Centre Feasibility Study of Neoadjuvant

Modified FOLFIRINOX and Stereotactic

Body Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced

Pancreatic Cancer with Collection of Baseline

Circulating Tumour cells ASTRO 25/10/2020;

Virtual Conference ASTRO Poster

De Deene Y, Wheatley M, Liney G,

Waddington D, Jelen U, Dong B: MRI-

guided real-time 4D Radiation dosimetry at

an MRI-Linac using Polymer Gel Dosimeters

ISMRM 08/08/2020; Virtual Conference

ISMRM Oral Presentation

Deshpande S: Validation and integration

of a Scale-invariant feature transform

(SIFT) tool for clinical deformable image

registration EPSM 11/02/2020; Virtual

Conference EPSM Oral Presentation

Girgis A: Optimising care for people

living with and beyond cancer National

Cancer Research Institute - Virtual Series

24/09/2020; Online: National Cancer

Research Institute, Oral Presentation

Girgis A: Panel member Medical Technology

Workshop: Product Development Clinical

Validation and Market Entry 25/08/2020:

SPHERE Partners, Oral Presentation

Girgis A: Routine Implementation of

PROs in Clinical Care Cancer Survivorship

Conference 12/03/2020; Melbourne,

Australia 3rd Victorian Cancer Survivorship

Conference Plenary Speaker

Girgis A: Trajectories of functioning in

survivors and partners/caregivers 3rd

Victorian Cancer Survivorship Conference

2020: 12/03/2020; Melbourne, Australia

Plenary Speaker

Haack R, Vasireddy R, Gorrie C, Motum

P: A Comparison of Commercially Available

Screening Tests for the Diagnosis of

G-6PD Deficiency in Neonates. 09/2020;

Virtual Meeting: International Society for

Laboratory Haematology; Oral Presentation

Ivimey B, Avery S, Delaney G, Girgis A,

Durcinoska I, Smith P, Xiong G, Knight

A, Moylan E, Webb G et al: A Centralised

Specialist Cancer Survivorship (CISCO) clinic

for patients with early breast cancer/DCIS:

preliminary results of an implementation

study with a focus on CALD participants

Victorian Cancer Survivorship Conference:

12/03/2020; Melbourne, Australia; Poster

Keall P: Building and clinically translating

new technology for cancer imaging and

targeted radiation therapy. 17th Annual

Meeting of Medical Physics (CSMP - 2021):

21/05/2021; Wuhan, China: CSMP; Oral

Presentation

Keall P: MRI-Guided Radiation Therapy: See

what you treat. 22/03/2021; German Cancer

Research Centre, Heidelberg, Germany:

German Cancer Research Centre Research

Seminar; Oral Presentation

Keall P: MRI-guided Radiation Therapy: See

what you treat. University of Pennsylvania

Research Seminar: 21/03/2021; Virtual:

University of Pennsylvania, USYD; Oral

Presentation

Keall P: Next Generation of MRT Systems.

AAPM Summer School 2021 - Modern

Applications of MR in Radiation Therapy:

29/06/2021: AAPM; Oral Presentation

Keall P: Pre-commercial device - Australia

System. AAPM Summer School 2021 -

Modern Applications of MR in Radiation

Therapy: 28/06/2021; Virtual: AAPM; Oral

Presentation

Keall P: The Australian MRI-Linac System:

How to arrive at the first patient treatment? :

8th MRinRT Satellite Symposium: 10/04/2021;

German Cancer Research Centre, Heidelberg,

Germany: MR in RT; Oral Presentation

Kumar S, Dundas K, D’Souza A, Grundy

J, King O, Lee A, Holloway L: Ethical

considerations for radiotherapy projects.

Is it quality improvement or research and

does it matter? ASMIRT: 31/05/2021; Virtual:

ASMIRT; Oral Presentation


Kumar S, Rai R, Elwadia D, Holloway L:

Clearer vision using MRI for radiotherapy

planning: experience of integrating

a dedicated MRI simulator ASMIRT:

31/05/2021; Virtual; Oral Presentation

Lee N, Shafiq J, Field M, Fiddler C,

Varadarajan S, Gandhidasan S, Hau E,

Vinod S: Development and validation of two

Australian models to predict 2-year survival

in stage I-III NSCLC RANZCR 2021 ASM:

16/09/2021; Virtual: RANZCR; Poster

Lee W, Draper B, Currow D, Chang S, Di

Giacomo M, Agar M: Current Australasian

Palliative Physicians and Psychiatrists

Practices and Perceived Challenges for

Depression Assessment and Management in

Patients with very poor prognosis ANZS of

Palliative Medicine Conference 17/09/2020;

Online ANZS of Palliative Care Oral

Presentation

Li Z, Satchithanandha A, Hopkins A,

Otton J, Descallar J, Adams D, Tang S,

Field M, Batumalai V, Holloway L et al:

Cardiovascular sequelae after adjuvant

therapy in a 10 year cohort of breast cancer

patients ESTRO ASM 2020: 28/11/2020;

Vienna, Austria (Virtual Conference): ESTRO

Poster

Liu P, Ge Y, Dong B, Liney G, Nguyen D,

Hewson EA, Waddington DEJ, O’Brien R,

Keall P: First Experimental Investigation of

Simultaneously Tracking Two Independently

Moving Targets on an MRI-Linac Using Real-

Time MRI and MLC Tracking AAPM 2020

Virtual Conference 14/07/2020; Virtual

Conference AAPM Oral Presentation

Liu P, Jelen U, Dong B, Liney G, Keall P:

Geometric accuracy of real-time tumour

tracking and dynamic beam adaptation

using the Australian MRI-Linear accelerator


ISMRM Poster

Lydiard S, Pontre B, Lowe B, Keall

P: Cardiac Radiosurgery for Atrial

Fibrillation: Target Motion and Treatment

Considerations. AAPM 2020 Virtual

Conference 14/07/2020; Virtual Conference

AAPM Oral Presentation

Lydiard S, Pontre B, Lowe BS, Keall P:

MRI-based motion characterisation of atrial

fibrillation cardiac radiosurgery targets


ISMRM Poster

Morton D, Walton K, Whiteford J, Lewis

C: An exploratory study investigating the

length of stay, weight loss and nutritional

descriptive parameters of head and neck

cancer surgical patients at Liverpool

Hospital from 2016-2018. 2020 DAA

Conference 08/2020; Postponed Dietetics

Association of Australia Abstract

O’Brien R, Vinod S, Sonke J, Wallis A,

Smith S, George A, Dillon O, Alnaghy

S: First in Human: Patient Adaptive 4D

Cone Beam CT (4DDCBCT). ESTRO 2020:

28/11/2020; Vienna, Australia Virtual

Conference ESTRO Oral Presentation

Schaffer M, McLoone J, Wakefield C,

Johnston K, Girgis A, Brierley M, Cohn R,

Signorelli C: E-Health tools for childhood

cancer survivorship care management:

A qualitative analysis of interviews

with survivors, parents, and general

practitioners. Kid Cancer Alliance Virtual

Symposium 17/09/2020; Sydney, Australia

Kid Cancer Alliance Oral Presentation

Scott J, King O, Surjan Y, Arumugam

S, Deshpande S, Udovitch M, Lee M,

Dundas K: Dosimetric impact of changing

gas volumes seen throughout treatment on

pancreas volumetric modulated arc therapy

ASMIRT: 31/05/2021; Virtual: ASMIRT; Oral

Presentation

Siva S, Bressel M, Kron T, Mai T, Le

H, Montgomery R, Hardcastle N, Rezo

A, Gill S, Higgs B et al: Stereotactic

Ablative Fractionated Radiotherapy versus

radiosurgery for Oligometastatic Neoplasia

to the Lung: A Randomised Phase II trial

ASTRO 25/10/2020; Virtual Conference Oral

Presentation

Smith S, Wallis A, King O, Moretti D, Vial

P, Shafiq J, Barton M, Xing A, Delaney

G: A 15-year review of incident reporting

in two integrated cancer centres ASMIRT:

31/05/2021; Virtual ASMIRT; Poster

Soon P, Karimi N, Wu V, Girgis A: Having

breast reconstruction post-mastectomy:

Barriers and facilitators reported by

Vietnamese-versus English-speaking women

with breast cancer 46th Annual Scientific

Meeting of the Clinical Oncology Society of

Australia: 12/11/2020; Adelaide, Australia

COSA Oral Presentation

Verma A, Liu Q, Lee S, Motum P:

Recombinant FVII: A use in Two Sydney

Tertiary Hospitals over the last decade.

2020; Perth, Australia: BLOOD, Oral

Presentation

Waddington D, Hindley N, Koonjoo N,

Reynolds T, Zhu B, Paganelli C, Rosen M,

Keall P: Accelerating Image Reconstruction

on an MRI-Linac with AUTOMAP. AAPM 2020

Virtual Conference 14/07/2020; Virtual

Conference AAPM Oral Presentation

Waddington D, Hindley N, Koonjoo N,

Reynolds T, Zhu B, Paganelli C, Rosen M,

Keall P: Towards real-Time Beam Adaptation

on an MRI-Linac using AUTOMAP. ISMRM

08/08/2020; Virtual Conference ISMRM

Oral Presentation Waddington D: High-

Contrast Imaging at Low Magnetic Fields.

International Society of Magnetic Resonance

in Medicine Annual Meeting: 15/5/2021;

Virtual: International Society of Magnetic

Resonance in Medicine Oral Presentation

Wallis A, O’Brien R, Dillon O, George A,

Smith S, Alnaghy S, Keall P, Vinod S,

Sonke J: Adaptive CBCT acquisition for

personalised thoracic imaging (ADAPT) in

radiotherapy: phase 1 pilot initial experience

ASMIRT: 31/05/2021; Virtual: ASMIRT; Oral

Presentation

Yap M: Practical aspects for the integration

of radiotherapy services in NCCPs.

Online Master Course on integration of

Radiotherapy Services in National Cancer

Programmes - Union for International

Cancer Control Master Course: 19/05/2020;

Virtual Union for International Cancer

Control; Oral Presentation

Zientara N, Giles E, Le H, Short M: How

are patients selected for proton therapy?

Looking to the past to inform future practice

ASMIRT: 31/05/2021; Virtual ASMIRT; Oral

Presentation


26 GRANTS $15,660,644Agar M, Currow D, Phillips J: Approach to

market for provision of technical services

Cancer Symptom Trials, Cancer Australia

$499,864: 2020

Agar M, et al: Approach to Market (ATM)

to support and enhance clinical trial

development in Australia, with a focus on

supportive care and symptom control for

patients with a cancer diagnosis. Cancer

Australia $500,000: 2020

Batumalai V, Barton M, Delaney G, Vinod

S, Forstner D, Liauw W, Chlap P, Kaadan

N, McCrossin J: Reducing unwarranted

variation in Oncology: Urgent action needed

SPHERE Cancer Clinical Academic Group

E/MCR Seed Grant Scheme $49,640:

04/02/2020

Batumalai V, Barton M, Delaney G,

Vinod S, orstner C, Liauw W, Chlap.P,

Kaadan N, McCrossin J: SPHERE Cancer

Clinical Academic Group E/MCR Seed

Grant: Reduced Unwarranted Variation in

Oncology. SPHERE Cancer Clinical Academic

Group: $50,000.00: 2020

Braeside Palliative Care Unit:

Improvement and development of sunroom

into a family media room. Ministry of Health:

$250,000: 2021

Chuan A, Chua W: A randomised controlled

trial of virtual reality pain therapy for

chronic neuropathic pain HCF Research

Foundation $30,092: 2021

Chua W, et al: Colorectal Cancer Research

Grant Irene and Arnold Vitocco Colorectal

Cancer Research Grant $300,000: 2020

Clark K, H M, Phillips J, Clarke S, Good

P, Lovell M, Lee J, Le B, Mohamudally

A, Currow D et al: An international,

double-blind, dose increment, parallel-arm,

randomised controlled trial of duloxetine

versus pregabalin for opioid unresponsive

cancer-related neuropathic pain: Phase

III trial. NHMRC Clinical trials and cohort

studies: $978,610: 2020

Dam L, Jensen L, Fink P, Frostholm L,

Smith A, Rix B, Trygfonden B: Fear of

Cancer Recurrence. Living with Chronic

Illness: (Danish Funding Body): $100,000 2020

Deshpande S, Holloway L, Vial P, Walker

A, Lee M, Vinod S, Jurasic J, Gray A,

Chlap P, Al Mouiee D et al: Development

of an in-house framework to build, validate,

and deploy deep learning models for auto-

segmentation of radiation therapy planning

volumes. CONCERT (Centre for Oncology

Education and Research Translation):

$49,977: 2021

Dhillon H, Koh E-S, et al: BRAIN: Brain

cancer Rehabilitation, Assessment,

Interventions for survivorship Need. Medical

Research Future Fund: Australian Brain

Cancer Mission Brain Cancer Survivorship

Grant: $4,970,000: 2020

Gabriel G: Cancer Care in Aboriginal people:

An assessment of Radiation Therapy and

Surgical Utilisation and outcomes across

NSW, comparing Aboriginal people with

non-Aboriginal people Centre for Oncology

Education and Research Translation

(CONCERT): $50,000: 18/06/2020

Hickman L, Urban K, Ingham G, Sutton P,

Johnson C, Keegan J, Caperchione CM,

Agar M, Phillips JL: An implementation

science m-Health project to improve patient

and clinician knowledge of fatigue and its

management in life limiting illness. Sydney

Partnership for Health, Education, Research

and enterprise (SPHERE) Translational Seed

Funding Scheme: $19,823: 2020

Holloway L, Philpot S, Field M, Thwaites D,

Churches T, Kennedy G, Pearson S, Vinod

S, Delaney G, Barton M et al: Australian

Cancer Data Network: distributed learning

from clinical data. ARDC - Australian

Research Data Commons: $957,858: 2021

Keall P: Cancer Imaging and Targeted

Radiation Therapy: From Discovery to

Clinical practice. NHMRC: $2,114,000:

Koh E-S, et al: The IWOT study: can we wait

to treat lower grade glioma? The Mark Hughes

Foundation - an Australian Brain Cancer

Mission funding Partner: $600,000: 2020

Kumar S: Improving patient outcomes with

state-of-the-art Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

CONCERT (Centre for Oncology Education and

Research Translation): $50,000:

Lobb E, Maccallum F, Agar M, Phillips JL,

Breen L, Luckett T, DiGiacomo M, Philip J,

Tieman J, Hosie A: Identifying the mental health effects and support needs of people bereaved during and following COVID-19: A Mixed Methods Project. Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Mental Health and Wellbeing during COVID-19: $748,750: 2020

Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre: Funding 0.5 FTE Clinical Psychologist Nelune Foundation: 0.5 FTE Clinical Psychologist Salary 2020 $132,434

Pham T, Price W, Barton M, Stait-Gardner T,

Lee S, Liu X: Targeting cancer heterogeneity with ultra-high field MRI and radiotherapy using machine learning Frontiers Technology Clinical Academic Group 2020 Seed Funding Scheme $8,955: 2020

Pham T: Targeting cancer heterogeneity with ultra-high field MRI and radiotherapy using machine learning. Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE) Cancer Clinical Academic Group $50,000 2021

Phillips J, Agar M, et al: Audit of National Care Standards, clinical pathways and decision support tools for patients with malignant brain cancer. . Cancer Australia $449,526: 2020

Rankin N, Paul C, Stone E, Rhee J, May

J, Bonevski B, Vinod S, Barker D, Bovill

M, Dodd R: Ready to screen. Targeting the high-risk population to improve lung cancer diagnosis. Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF): $2,000,000. 2021

Rhee J, Yap M: Accelerating translation: Acceptability and feasibility of potential lung cancer screening implementation in Australia communities. National Health and Medical Research Council NHMRC: 2020 $567,728

Roberts T: Prostate Cancer Care Coordinator Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre; The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia $133,479: 06/2021

Soon P, Girgis A: Breast reconstruction decision aid: Improving the quality of decision-making for Arabic women with breast cancer CI NSW $30,000: 2020

22 INVITED SPEAKERSAgar M: Exploring the critical role of Palliative Care in Aged Care: COVID-19 and beyond Parliamentary Friends of Palliative Care Event Online: 25/09/2020

Agar M: Improving the quality of care for older patients with cancer: Implementing comprehensive geriatric assessment and management from theory into practice COSA Geriatric Oncology Breakfast Session Online: 12/11/2020


Agar M: National Update Palliative Care in

Queensland Summit Online: 18/11/2020

Agar M: Palliative Care and COVID-19; We’re

all in this together’: Parliamentary Friends of

Palliative Care Event Online: 26/05/2020

Agar M: The impact of COVID-19 on the

delivery of palliative care during 2020:

Parliamentary Friends of Palliative Care

Event 4/12/2020

Batumalai V: Building Research Capacity

in Radiation Therapy ASMIRT NSW Branch:

RT Research in Australia Seminar Virtual

Conference based in Australia: 21/11/2020

Begg, J (2021) Invited Talk and Panelist

Member for Q&A Session, Interaction of

Radiation with Matter, Presented virtually

at RANZCR Phase 1 Training Program,

19/06/2021

Chlap P: The Radiotherapy Atlas Contouring

Tool (TRAC) for Automated Clinical Trial

QA TROG Technical Workshop Virtual

Conference: 16/03/2020

Field M: Introduction to Machine Learning

ACPSEM Summer School 2020 - Online

Virtual Conference: 29/10/2020

Field M: Scaling up radiomics with

distributed learning: Virtual Conference:

13/02/2020

Holloway L: AI in Clinical Trial IOMP Webinar

Series on AI and ML in Medicine Web

Conference - Global Virtual Conference:

04/08/2020

Holloway L: Introduction to data science

ACPSEM Summer School 2020 Online

Virtual Conference: 29/10/2020

Keall P: Motion Management in Magnetic

Resonance guided Radiation Therapy ISMRM

2020: Virtual Conference based in America:

10/08/2020

Koh E: Radiation associated cardiovascular

dysfunction: a holistic approach to clinical

practice research COSA 2020: Virtual

Conference based in Australia: 11/11/2020

Moylan E: Active Learning Module - Cancer

Shared Care: Webinar: 7/11/2021

Moylan E: Treatment landscape of HR+/

HER2- pre & peri-menopausal Metastatic

Breast Cancer 2021: CNSA: Sydney, NSW,

Australia: 18/06/2021

Phillips J, Agar M: Palliative and Supportive

Care Education Palliative Care Roundtable

Webinar Online: 5/11

Zhu X: Challenge and opportunity of TCM

clinical practice and research in the real

world 18th Cancer Integrative Therapy

Progress National Conference Guangzhou,

China (virtual participation): 08/2020

Zhu X: Challenges and strategies in

prompting integration of Chinese Medicine

and Acupuncture in Public Hospitals

in Australia The Inaugural Integrative

Oncology Conference Beijing, China (Virtual

participation): 11/2020

Zhu X: Following the principle of TCM for

cancer survivorship Community Seminar 2:

Sydney, Australia: 2020

Zhu X: Risk and mitigation for your health:

following the principle of traditional Chinese

medicine Community Seminar 1 - KPMG Staff

Club Sydney, Australia: 08/2020

Zhu X: TCM Principle and Cancer

Survivorship Community Seminar 3: Sydney,

Australia: 10/2020

149 JOURNALSAdam T, Becker TM, Chua W, Bray

V, Roberts TL: The Multiple Potential

Biomarkers for Predicting Immunotherapy

Response-Finding the Needle in the

Haystack. Cancers (Basel) 2021, 13(2).

Agar M, Bush SH: Delirium at the End of

Life. Med Clin North Am 2020, 104(3):491-

501.

Agar MR: Delirium at the end of life. Age

Ageing 2020, 49(3):337-340.

Al Mouiee D, Meijering E, Kalloniatis M,

Nivison-Smith L, Williams RA, Nayagam

DAX, Spencer TC, Luu CD, McGowan

C, Epp SB et al: Classifying Retinal

Degeneration in Histological Sections Using

Deep Learning. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2021,

10(7):9.

Alharthi T, George A, Arumugam S,

Holloway L, Thwaites D, Vial P: An

investigation of the IQM signal variation

and error detection sensitivity for patient

specific pre-treatment QA. Phys Med 2021,

86:6-18.

Alharthi T, Vial P, Holloway L, Thwaites

D: Intrinsic detector sensitivity analysis as

a tool to characterize ArcCHECK and EPID

sensitivity to variations in delivery for lung

SBRT VMAT plans. J Appl Clin Med Phys

2021, 22(6):229-240.

Amgarth-Duff I, Hosie A, Caplan G, Agar

M: A systematic review of the overlap of

fluid biomarkers in delirium and advanced

cancer-related syndromes. BMC Psychiatry

2020, 20(1):182.

Amgarth-Duff I, Hosie A, Caplan G,

Agar M: Toward best practice methods for

delirium biomarker studies: An international

modified Delphi study. Int J Geriatr

Psychiatry 2020, 35(7):737-748.

Amgarth-Duff I, Hosie A, Caplan GA, Agar

M: Delirium researchers’ perspectives of the

challenges in delirium biomarker research:

A qualitative study. PLoS One 2021,

16(4):e0243254.

Arumugam S, Pavey D, Oar A, Holloway

L, Sidhom M, Lee M: The first real-time

intrafraction target position monitoring

in pancreas SBRT on an Elekta linear

accelerator. Physical and Engineering

Sciences in Medicine 2021. http://dx.doi.

org/10.1007/s13246-021-01007-0

Assareh H, Stubbs JM, Trinh LTT,

Greenaway S, Agar M, Achat HM: Variations

in hospital inpatient palliative care service

use: a retrospective cohort study. BMJ

Support Palliat Care 2020, 10(3):e27.

Bailey MH, Meyerson WU, Dursi LJ, Wang

LB, Dong G, Liang WW, Weerasinghe A,

Li S, Li Y, Kelso S et al: Retrospective

evaluation of whole exome and genome

mutation calls in 746 cancer samples. Nat

Commun 2020, 11(1):4748.

Bamgboje-Ayodele A, Levesque JV, Gerges

M, Girgis A: The male perspective: A mixed

methods study of the impact, unmet needs

and challenges of caring for women with

breast cancer. J Psychosoc Oncol 2020:1-17.

Barber J, Yuen J, Jameson M, Schmidt L,

Sykes J, Gray A, Hardcastle N, Choong C,

Poder J, Walker A et al: Deforming to Best

Practice: Key considerations for deformable

image registration in radiotherapy. J Med

Radiat Sci 2020, 67(4):318-332.

Barton M, Batumalai V, Spencer K: Health

Economic and Health Service Issues of

Palliative Radiotherapy. Clin Oncol (R Coll

Radiol) 2020, 32(11):775-780.

Batumalai V, Delaney GP, Descallar J,

Gabriel G, Wong K, Shafiq J, Barton M:

Variation in the use of radiotherapy

fractionation for breast cancer: Survival

outcome and cost implications. Radiother

Oncol 2020, 152:70-77.

Batumalai V, Descallar J, Delaney GP,

Gabriel G, Wong K, Shafiq J, Vinod

SK, Barton MB: Patterns of palliative

radiotherapy fractionation for brain

metastases patients in New South Wales,

Australia. Radiother Oncol 2020, 156:174-180

Batumalai V, Descallar J, Delaney GP,

Gabriel G, Wong K, Shafiq J, Vinod SK,

Barton MB: Patterns of use of palliative

radiotherapy fractionation for bone

metastases and 30-day mortality. Radiother

Oncol 2021, 154:299-305.


Batumalai V, Jameson MG, King O, Walker

R, Slater C, Dundas K, Dinsdale G, Wallis

A, Ochoa C, Gray R et al: Cautiously

optimistic: A survey of radiation oncology

professionals’ perceptions of automation in

radiotherapy planning. Tech Innov Patient

Support Radiat Oncol 2020, 16:58-64.

Birling Y, Jia M, Li G, Sarris J,

Bensoussan A, Zhu X: Zao Ren An Shen for

insomnia: a systematic review with meta-

analysis. Sleep Med 2020, 69:41-50.

Bland KA, Harrison M, Zopf EM, Sousa

MS, Currow DC, Ely M, Agar M, Butcher

BE, Vaughan V, Dowd A et al: Quality

of Life and Symptom Burden Improve in

Patients Attending a Multidisciplinary

Clinical Service for Cancer Cachexia: A

Retrospective Observational Review. J

Pain Symptom Manage 2021. doi: 0.1016/j.

jpainsymman.2021.02.034.



Batumalai V, Harvey J et al: The effect of

imaging modality (magnetic resonance imaging

vs. computed tomography) and patient position

(supine vs. prone) on target and organ at risk

doses in partial breast irradiation. J Med Radiat

Sci 2020, 68(2):157-166.



Batumalai V, Harvey J et al: The effect of

imaging modality (magnetic resonance imaging

vs. computed tomography) and patient position

(supine vs. prone) on target and organ at risk

doses in partial breast irradiation. J Med Radiat

Sci 2021, 68(2):157-166.

Brunton H, Caligiuri G, Cunningham R,

Upstill-Goddard R, Bailey UM, Garner

IM, Nourse C, Dreyer S, Jones M,

Moran-Jones K et al: HNF4A and GATA6

Loss Reveals Therapeutically Actionable

Subtypes in Pancreatic Cancer. Cell Rep

2020, 31(6):107625.

Buckley JG, Dong B, Liney GP: Imaging

performance of a high-field in-line magnetic

resonance imaging linear accelerator with

a patient rotation system for fixed-gantry

radiotherapy. Phys Imaging Radiat Oncol

2020, 16:130-133.

Buckley JG, Dowling JA, Sidhom M, Liney

GP, Rai R, Metcalfe PE, Holloway LC, Keall

PJ: Pelvic organ motion and dosimetric

implications during horizontal patient

rotation for prostate radiation therapy. Med

Phys 2020, 48(1):397-413.

Buckley JG, Dowling JA, Sidhom M, Liney

GP, Rai R, Metcalfe PE, Holloway LC, Keall

PJ: Pelvic organ motion and dosimetric

implications during horizontal patient

rotation for prostate radiation therapy. Med

Phys 2021, 48(1):397-413.

Buckley JG, Smith A, Sidhom M, Rai

R, Liney GP, Dowling JA, Metcalfe PE,

Holloway LC, Keall PJ: Measurements

of human tolerance to horizontal rotation

within an MRI scanner: Towards gantry-free

radiation therapy. J Med Imaging Radiat

Oncol 2021, 65(1):112-119.

Buckley JG, Smith AB, Sidhom M, Rai

R, Liney GP, Dowling JA, Metcalfe PE,

Holloway LC, Keall PJ: Measurements

of human tolerance to horizontal rotation

within an MRI scanner: Towards gantry-free

radiation therapy. J Med Imaging Radiat

Oncol 2020, 65:112-119.

Butler J, Finley C, Norell CH, Harrison

S, Bryant H, Achiam MP, Altman AD,

Baxter N, Bentley J, Cohen PA et al: New

approaches to cancer care in a COVID-19

world. Lancet Oncol 2020, 21(7):e339-e340.

Chan A, Moylan E, Jackson S, Devoto J,

Jones N, Radmil S, Wilkinson K, Roohullah

A, Adam T, Lee S et al: Phase Ib trial of

olinvacimab and pembrolizumab in patients

with metastatic triple-negative breast

cancer. Cancer Res 2021, 81(4):PS10.18.

Chia XX, Johnston R, Aggarwal R, Huynh

T, Notaras S, Zekanovic D, Gordon K,

Sasongko V, Makris A: Renal supportive

care programs: An observational study

assessing impact on hospitalization and

survival outcomes. Nephrology (Carlton)

2021, 26(6):522-529.

Chlap P, Min H, Vandenberg N, Dowling J,

Holloway L, Haworth: A review of medical

image data augmentation techniques for

deep learning applications. J Med Imaging

Radiat Oncol 2021. doi: 10.1111/1754-

9485.13261

Chow H, Hon J, Chua W, Chuan A: Effect

of Virtual Reality Therapy in Reducing Pain

and Anxiety for Cancer-Related Medical

Procedures: A Systematic N arrative Review.

J Pain Symptom Manage 2021, 61(2):384-

394.

Chow JSF, Barclay G, Harlum J,

Swierczynski J, Jobburn K, Agar M,

Program P, Group PPI-DEM: Palliative

Care Home Support Packages (PEACH):

a carer cross-sectional survey. BMJ

Support Palliat Care 2021. doi: 10.1136/

bmjspcare-2020-002294

Comans T, Nguyen KH, Stafford-Bell

F, Agar M: Cost comparison of different

models of palliative care delivery. Australas

J Ageing 2020, 40:90–93.

Comans T, Nguyen KH, Stafford-Bell

F, Agar M: Cost comparison of different

models of palliative care delivery. Australas

J Ageing 2021, 40(1):90-93.

Cong E, Oar AJ, Lee MT, Chicco A, Lin

M, Yap J, Lin P, Ho Shon I: Novel 5-point

18-FDG-PET/CT visual scoring system for

assessing treatment response in patients

with oesophageal or gastro-oesophageal

junction carcinoma. J Med Imaging Radiat

Oncol 2021, 65(1):23-37.

Consortium ITP-CAoWG: Pan-cancer

analysis of whole genomes. Nature 2020,

578(7793):82-93.

Crotty M, Gnanamanickam ES, Cameron

I, Agar M, Ratcliffe J, Laver K: Are

people in residential care entitled to

receive rehabilitation services following hip

fracture? Views of the public from a citizens’

jury. BMC Geriatr 2020, 20(1):172.

Currow DC, Glare P, Louw S, Martin

P, Clark K, Fazekas B, Agar MR: A

randomised, double blind, placebo-

controlled trial of megestrol acetate or

dexamethasone in treating symptomatic

anorexia in people with advanced cancer. Sci

Rep 2021, 11(1):2421.

De Deene Y, Wheatley M, Dong B, Roberts

N, Jelen U, Waddington D, Liney G:

Towards real-time 4D radiation dosimetry

on an MRI-Linac. Phys Med Biol 2020,

65(22):225031.

Di Giacomo M, Chang S, Luckett T, Agar

M, Phillips J, Lam L: Financial stress

experienced by informal carers of adults

with a chronic disease: Results from an

Australian population-based cross-sectional

survey. Australas J Ageing 2020, 39(3):254-

262.

Diab J, Bender K, Lorenzo A, Merrett

N: A rare case of caecal volvulus post

gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Int J Surg

Case Rep 2020, 77:219-221.

Ding PN, Roberts TL, Chua W, Becker

TM, Caixeiro N, de Souza P, Gao B, Lee

CK, Itchins M, Westman H et al: Plasma

pre-treatment T790M relative allelic

frequency in patients with advanced EGFR-

mutated non-small cell lung cancer predicts

treatment response to subsequent-line

osimertinib. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2021,

10(4):1623-1634.

Disalvo D, Agar M, Caplan G, Murtagh FE,

Luckett T, Heneka N, Hickman L, Kinchin

I, Trethewie S, Sheehan C et al: Virtual

models of care for people with palliative care

needs living in their own home: A systematic

meta-review and narrative synthesis. Palliat

Med 2021:2692163211024451.

Dreyer SB, Pinese M, Jamieson NB,

Scarlett CJ, Colvin EK, Pajic M, Johns

AL, Humphris JL, Wu J, Cowley MJ et

al: Precision Oncology in Surgery: Patient

Selection for Operable Pancreatic Cancer.

Ann Surg 2020, 272(2):366-376.


Dreyer SB, Upstill-Goddard R, Paulus-

Hock V, Paris C, Lampraki EM, Dray E,

Serrels B, Caligiuri G, Rebus S, Plenker

D et al: Targeting DNA Damage Response

and Replication Stress in Pancreatic Cancer.

Gastroenterology 2021, 160(1):362-377 e313.

Field M, Hardcastle N, Jameson M, Aherne

N, Holloway L: Machine learning applications

in radiation oncology. Physics and Imaging in

Radiation Oncology 2021, 19:13-24.

Finnegan R, Laugaard Lorenzen E, Dowling

J, Thwaites D, Delaney G, Brink C, Holloway

L: Validation of a new open-source method for

automatic delineation and dose assessment of

the heart and LADCA in breast radiotherapy

with simultaneous uncertainty estimation.

Phys Med Biol 2021, 66(3):035014.

Finnegan R, Lorenzen E, Dowling J,

Holloway L, Thwaites D, Brink C: Localised

delineation uncertainty for iterative atlas

selection in automatic cardiac segmentation.

Phys Med Biol 2020, 65(3):035011.

Finnegan R, Lorenzen EL, Dowling J,

Jensen I, Berg M, Thomsen MS, Delaney

GP, Koh ES, Thwaites D, Brink C et al:

Analysis of cardiac substructure dose in

a large, multi-centre danish breast cancer

cohort (the DBCG HYPO trial): Trends and

predictive modelling. Radiother Oncol 2020,

153:130-138.

Fischer T, Agar M, Hosie A, Teodorczuk

A: Unpacking agitation in practice: a call

for greater precision. Age Ageing 2020,

49(5):725-726.

Garcia MV, Agar MR, Soo WK, To T,

Phillips JL: Screening Tools for Identifying

Older Adults With Cancer Who May Benefit

From a Geriatric Assessment: A Systematic

Review. JAMA Oncol 2021, 7(4):616-627.

Ghandourh W, Dowling J, Chlap P, Oar

A, Jacob S, Batumalai V, Holloway

L: Assessing tumor centrality in lung

stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy

(SABR): the effects of variations in bronchial

tree delineation and potential for automated

methods. Med Dosim 2020, 46(1):94-101.

Ghandourh W, Dowling J, Chlap P, Oar

A, Jacob S, Batumalai V, Holloway

L: Assessing tumor centrality in lung

stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy

(SABR): the effects of variations in bronchial

tree delineation and potential for automated

methods. Med Dosim 2021, 46(1):94-101.

Girgis A, Durcinoska I, Arnold A, Descallar

J, Kaadan N, Koh ES, Miller A, Ng W,

Carolan M, Della-Fiorentina SA et al:

Web-Based Patient-Reported Outcome

Measures for Personalized Treatment and

Care (PROMPT-Care): Multicenter Pragmatic

Nonrandomized Trial. J Med Internet Res

2020, 22(10):e19685.

Gray R, Gaszynski R, Merrett N, Cavallucci

D, Wilson T, Gray A, Gaszynski R, Merrett

N, Slater J, Cavallucci T et al: ANZHPBA

Post-Fellowship Training in HPB Surgery:

A Comprehensive Review from the First 10

Years. HPB (Oxford) 2021, 23:S394-S395.

Haidar A, Field M, Sykes J, Carolan

M, Holloway L: PSPSO: A package for

parameters selection using particle swarm

optimization. SoftwareX 2021, 15.

Haider S, Descallar J, Moylan E, Chua

W: Polypharmacy And The Use Of Low Or

Limited Value Medications In Advanced

Cancer. Intern Med J 2020, doi: 10.1111/

imj.14964.

Hanna S, Tam CWM, Knight A, Zhao L,

Ban L, Pellizzon B, Parks J: The ED2GP

(emergency department to general practice)

for Women study: understanding lower

follow-up rates among older women. Aust J

Prim Health 2020, 26(5):396-401.

Hao J, Zhu X, Bensoussan A: Effects

of Nonpharmacological Interventions

in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral

Neuropathy: An Overview of Systematic

Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Integr Cancer

Ther 2020, 19:1534735420945027.

Haque I, Apostolou C, Das A, Merrett N:

Management of Type E Bile Duct Injuries

over a 10 Year Period at a HPB Referral Unit.

HPB (Oxford) 2021(23):S366.

Haque I, Gaszynski R, Apostolou C, Das

A, Wilson R, Merrett N: Comparison of

observed vs predicted outcomes from

NSQIP for pancreaticoduodenectomy at a

pancreatic surgery unit. HPB (Oxford) 2021,

23:S300-S301.

Ho V, Chung L, Singh A, Lea V, Abubakar

A, Lim SH, Chua W, Ng W, Lee M, Roberts

TL et al: Aberrant Expression of RAD52,

Its Prognostic Impact in Rectal Cancer and

Association with Poor Survival of Patients.

Int J Mol Sci 2020, 21(5).

Hofman MS, Emmett L, Sandhu S, Iravani

A, Joshua AM, Goh JC, Pattison DA, Tan

TH, Kirkwood ID, Ng S et al: [(177)Lu]Lu-

PSMA-617 versus cabazitaxel in patients with

metastatic castration-resistant prostate

cancer (TheraP): a randomised, open-label,

phase 2 trial. Lancet 2021, 397(10276):797-

804.

Hosie A, Kochovska S, Ries N, Gilmore I,

Parker D, Sinclair C, Sheehan C, Collier A,

Caplan GA, Visser M et al: Older Persons’

and Their Caregivers’ Perspectives and

Experiences of Research Participation

With Impaired Decision-Making Capacity: A

Scoping Review. Gerontologist 2020. doi:

https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaa118

Hudson P, Girgis A, Thomas K, Philip J,

Currow DC, Mitchell G, Parker D, Liew D,

Brand C, Le B et al: Do family meetings for

hospitalised palliative care patients improve

outcomes and reduce health care costs?

A cluster randomised trial. Palliat Med

2020:269216320967282.

Hunter J, Grant S, Delaney GP, Smith

CA, Templeman K, Ussher J: Hospital

policies on complementary medicine: a

cross-sectional survey of Australian cancer

services. Med J Aust 2020, 213(10):474-475.

Icgc Tcga Pan-Cancer Analysis of

Whole Genomes Consortium: Pan-cancer

analysis of whole genomes. Nature 2020,

578(7793):82-93.

Jacob SA, Do V, Wilson BE, Ng WL, Barton

MB: The value of first-line chemotherapy

and targeted therapy in the treatment of

breast cancer. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl)

2021, 30(1):e13352.


Jeon MS, Dhillon HM, Koh ES, Nowak AK,

Hovey E, Agar MR: Sleep disturbance in

people with brain tumours and caregivers:

a survey of healthcare professionals’ views

and current practice. Support Care Cancer

2021, 29(3):1497-1508.

Jeon MS, Dhillon HM, Koh ES, Nowak

AK, Hovey E, Descallar J, Miller L,

Marshall NS, Agar MR: Exploring sleep

disturbance among adults with primary or

secondary malignant brain tumours and

their caregivers. Neurooncol Pract 2021,

8(1):48-59.

Johnson MJ, Sbizzera I, Fairhurst C,

Fazekas B, Agar M, Ekstrom M, Currow

DC: No excess harms from sustained-release

morphine: a randomised placebo-controlled

trial in chronic breathlessness. BMJ Support

Palliat Care 2020, 10(4):421-428.

Joseph M, Gaszynski R, Bender K,

Daly D, Merrett N, Apostolou C: How to

perform transcystic stenting in the COVID-19

pandemic: an approach to biliary stenting

without specialized endobiliary stenting

equipment. ANZ J Surg 2021, 91(6):1290-1291.

Karimi N, Descallar J, Girgis A, Soon PS:

Breast reconstruction in South Western

Sydney. ANZ J Surg 2020, 90(11):2340-2345.

Kenny P, Street DJ, Hall J, Agar M,

Phillips J: Valuing End-of-Life Care for

Older People with Advanced Cancer: Is

Dying at Home Important? Patient 2021. doi:

10.1007/s40271-021-00517

Kim AH, Girgis A, Karimi N, Sechi

AJ, Descallar J, Andrews JM, Siegel

CA, Connor SJ: A Web-Based Decision

Aid (myAID) to Enhance Quality of Life,

Empowerment, Decision Making, and Disease

Control for Patients With Ulcerative Colitis:

Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled

Trial. JMIR Res Protoc 2020, 9(7):e15994.

Kinchin I, Mitchell E, Agar M, Trepel D:

The economic cost of delirium: A systematic

review and quality assessment. Alzheimers

Dement 2021, 17(6):1026-1041.

King MT, Agar M, Currow DC, Hardy J,

Fazekas B, McCaffrey N: Assessing quality

of life in palliative care settings: head-to-

head comparison of four patient-reported

outcome measures (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL,

FACT-Pal, FACT-Pal-14, FACT-G7). Support

Care Cancer 2020, 28(1):141-153.

Kochovska S, Agar MR, Phillips JL, Tieman

J, Sheehan C, Clark K, Currow DC: Applying

evidence-based symptomatic treatments

from other clinical disciplines to palliative

care. Palliat Med 2021, 35(3):458-460.

Kokkinos J, Ignacio R, Sharbeen G,

Boyer C, Gonzales-Aloy E: Targeting the

undruggable in pancreatic cancer using

nano-based gene silencing drugs. 2020, 240.

Lau BKF, Reynolds T, Wallis A, Smith

S, George A, Keall PJ, Sonke JJ, Vinod

SK, Dillon O, O’Brien RT: Reducing

4DCBCT scan time and dose through

motion compensated acquisition and

reconstruction. Phys Med Biol 2021, 66(7).

Lawlor PG, McNamara-Kilian MT,

MacDonald AR, Momoli F, Tierney S,

Lacaze-Masmonteil N, Dasgupta M, Agar

M, Pereira JL, Currow DC et al: Melatonin

to prevent delirium in patients with

advanced cancer: a double blind, parallel,

randomized, controlled, feasibility trial. BMC

Palliat Care 2020, 19(1):163.

Lee F, Gaszynski R, Daly D, Merrett N:

Haemosuccus pancreaticus caused by

calcified stone eroding into the splenic vein.

ANZ J Surg 2021. doi: 10.1111/ans.16666

Lee W, Pulbrook M, Sheehan C, Kochovska

S, Chang S, Hosie A, Lobb E, Parker

D, Draper B, Agar MR et al: Clinically

Significant Depressive Symptoms Are

Prevalent in People With Extremely Short

Prognoses-A Systematic Review. J Pain

Symptom Manage 2021, 61(1):143-166 e142.

Levesque JV, Gerges M, Wu VS, Girgis

A: Chinese-Australian women with breast

cancer call for culturally appropriate

information and improved communication

with health professionals. Cancer Rep

(Hoboken) 2020, 3(2):e1218.

Li CH, Prokopec SD, Sun RX, Yousif

F, Schmitz N, Subtypes PT, Clinical T,

Boutros PC, Consortium P: Sex differences

in oncogenic mutational processes. Nat

Commun 2020, 11(1):4330.

Lim R, El-Haque I, Merrett N: Lemmel’s

Syndrome Leading to Enterolith Ileus. HPB

(Oxford) 2021(23).

Liu PZY, Dong B, Nguyen DT, Ge Y,

Hewson EA, Waddington DEJ, O’Brien

R, Liney GP, Keall PJ: First experimental

investigation of simultaneously tracking two

independently moving targets on an MRI-

linac using real-time MRI and MLC tracking.

Med Phys 2020, 47(12):6440-6449.

Lorenz KA, Mickelsen J, Vallath N,

Bhatnagar S, Spruyt O, Rabow M, Agar

M, Dy SM, Anderson K, Deodhar J et al:

The Palliative Care-Promoting Access and

Improvement of the Cancer Experience

(PC-PAICE) Project in India: A Multisite

International Quality Improvement

Collaborative. J Pain Symptom Manage

2020, 61(1):190-197.

Lorenz KA, Mickelsen J, Vallath N, Bhatnagar S, Spruyt O, Rabow M, Agar M, Dy SM, Anderson K, Deodhar J et al: The Palliative Care-Promoting Access and Improvement of the Cancer Experience (PC-PAICE) Project in India: A Multisite International Quality Improvement Collaborative. J Pain Symptom Manage 2021, 61(1):190-197.

Luckett T, Donkor A, Phillips J, Currow DC, Parker D, Lobb E, Agar MR: Australian specialist palliative care’s response to COVID-19: an anonymous online survey of service providers. Ann Palliat Med 2021, 10(3):2747-2757.

Lydiard S, Blanck O, Hugo G, O’Brien R, Keall P: A review of cardiac radioablation (CR) for Arrhythmias: Procedures, Technology, and Future Opportunities. International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics 2021, 109(3):783-800.

Lydiard S, Pontre B, Lowe BS, Ball H, Sasso G, Keall P: Cardiac radioablation for atrial fibrillation: Target motion characterization and treatment delivery considerations. Med Phys 2021, 48(3):931-941.

Mackenzie P, Vajdic C, Delaney G, Gabriel G, Agar M, Comans T: Factors affecting radiotherapy utilisation in geriatric oncology patients in NSW, Australia Technical Innovations & Patient Support in Radiation Oncology 2020, 16:17-23.

Madden L, Archer J, Li E, Jelen U, Dong B, Holloway L, Rosenfeld A: MRI-LINAC beam profile measurements using a plastic scintillation dosimeter. Phys Med 2020, 73:111-116.

Madden L, Roberts N, Jelen U, Dong B, Holloway L, Metcalfe P, Rosenfeld A, Li E: In-line MRI-LINAC depth dose measurements using an in-house plastic scintillation dosimeter. Biomedical Physics and Engineering Express 2021, 7(2).


Maharaj A, Evans S, Zalcberg J,

Ioannou L, Graco M, Croagh D: Barriers

and enablers to the implementation

of multidisciplinary team meetings: a

qualitative study using the theoretical

domains framework. BMJ Quality & Safety

2020:DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2020-011793.

Maharaj A, Evans S, Zalcberg J, Ioannou

L, Graco M, Croagh D: Barriers and

enablers to the implementation of protocol-

based imaging in pancreatic cancer: A

qualitative study using the theoretical

domains framework. PLoS Biol 2021,

15(12):e0243312.

Maharaj AD, Samoborec S, Evans SM,

Zalcberg J, Neale RE, Goldstein D,

Merrett N, White K, Croagh D, Pilgrim CHC

et al: Patient-reported outcome measures

(PROMs) in pancreatic cancer: a systematic

review. HPB (Oxford) 2020, 22(2):187-203.

Marcello M, Denham JW, Kennedy A,

Haworth A, Steigler A, Greer PB, Holloway

LC, Dowling JA, Jameson MG, Roach D

et al: Reduced Dose Posterior to Prostate

Correlates With Increased PSA Progression

in Voxel-Based Analysis of 3 Randomized

Phase 3 Trials. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys

2020, 108(5):1304-1318.

Marcello M, Denham JW, Kennedy A,

Haworth A, Steigler A, Greer PB, Holloway

LC, Dowling JA, Jameson MG, Roach D

et al: Relationships between rectal and

perirectal doses and rectal bleeding or

tenesmus in pooled voxel-based analysis

of 3 randomised phase III trials. Radiother

Oncol 2020, 150:281-292.

Martin JH, Hill C, Walsh A, Efron D, Taylor K,

Kennedy M, Galettis R, Lightfoot P, Hanson

J, Irving H et al: Clinical trials with cannabis

medicines-guidance for ethics committees,

governance officers and researchers to

streamline ethics applications and ensuring

patient safety: considerations from the

Australian experience. Trials 2020, 21(1):932.

McCaffrey N, Asser T, Fazekas B,

Muircroft W, Agar M, Clark K, Eckermann

S, Lee J, Joshi R, Allcroft P et al: Health-

related quality of life in patients with

inoperable malignant bowel obstruction:

secondary outcome from a double-blind,

parallel, placebo-controlled randomised trial

of octreotide. BMC Cancer 2020, 20(1):1050.

McGahan W, Waterhouse M, O’Connell D,

Merrett N, Goldstein D: Determining the

CA19-9 concentration that best predicts

the presence of CT-occult unresectable

features in patients with pancreatic cancer:

A population-based analysis. Pancreatology

2020, 20(7):1458-1464.

McGarry CK, Grattan LJ, Ivory AM, Leek F,

Liney GP, Liu Y, Miloro P, Rai R, Robinson

A, Shih AJ et al: Tissue mimicking materials

for imaging and therapy phantoms: a review.

Phys Med Biol 2020, 65(23).

Mills J, Ramachenderan J, Chapman M,

Greenland R, Agar M: Prioritising workforce

wellbeing and resilience: What COVID-19

is reminding us about self-care and staff

support. Palliat Med 2020, 34(9):1137-1139.

Morgan E, Soerjomataram I, Gavin AT,

Rutherford MJ, Gatenby P, Bardot A,

Ferlay J, Bucher O, De P, Engholm G et al:

International trends in oesophageal cancer

survival by histological subtype between

1995 and 2014. Gut 2021, 70(2):234-242.

Ngo P, Goldsbury DE, Karikios D, Yap S,

Yap ML, Egger S, O’Connell DL, Ball D,

Fong KM, Pavlakis N et al: Lung cancer

treatment patterns and factors relating to

systemic therapy use in Australia. Asia Pac

J Clin Oncol 2021. https://doi.org/10.1111/

ajco.13637

Oar A, Lee M, Le H, Hruby G, Dalfsen R,

Pryor D, Lee D, Chu J, Holloway L, Briggs

A et al: Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials

Group (AGITG) and Trans-Tasman Radiation

Oncology Group (TROG) Guidelines for

Pancreatic Stereotactic Body Radiation

Therapy (SBRT). Pract Radiat Oncol 2020,

10(3):e136-e146.

O’Brien RT, Dillon O, Lau B, George

A, Smith S, Wallis A, Sonke JJ, Keall

PJ, Vinod SK: The first-in-human

implementation of adaptive 4D cone beam

CT for lung cancer radiotherapy: 4DCBCT

in less time with less dose. Radiother Oncol

2021, 161:29-34.

Pham TT, Liney G, Wong K, Henderson C,

Rai R, Graham PL, Borok N, Truong MX,

Lee M, Shin JS et al: Multi-parametric

magnetic resonance imaging assessment

of whole tumour heterogeneity for

chemoradiotherapy response prediction in

rectal cancer. Phys Imaging Radiat Oncol

2021, 18:26-33.

Phan K, Tatian A, Woods J, Cains G, Frew

JW: Prevalence of inflammatory bowel

disease (IBD) in hidradenitis suppurativa

(HS): systematic review and adjusted meta-

analysis. Int J Dermatol 2020, 59(2):221-

228.

Phua C, NG A, Brooks C, Harrington Z,

Vedam H, Huynh T, Seccombe D, Aouad

P, Cordato D: Prevalence and factors

associated with advanced care directives

in a motor neuron disease multidisciplinary

clinic in Australia. Postgraduate Medical

JournalPostgraduate Medical Journal 2020,

1(5):doi:10.1136/postgradmedj-2020-138184.

Post CCB, de Boer SM, Powell ME,

Mileshkin L, Katsaros D, Bessette

P, Haie-Meder C, Ottevanger NPB,

Ledermann JA, Khaw P et al: Long-Term

Toxicity and Health-Related Quality of Life

After Adjuvant Chemoradiation Therapy

or Radiation Therapy Alone for High-Risk

Endometrial Cancer in the Randomized

PORTEC-3 Trial. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys

2021, 109(4):975-986.

Rajendra S, Pavey D, McKay O, Merrett

N, Gautam SD: Human papillomavirus

infection in esophageal squamous cell

carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma:

a concise review. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020,

1482(1):36-48.

Redfern J, Hafiz N, Hyun K, Knight A,

Hespe C, Chow CK, Briffa T, Gallagher

R, Reid C, Hare DL et al: QuUality

improvement in primary care to prevent

hospitalisations and improve Effectiveness

and efficiency of care for people Living with

coronary heart disease (QUEL): protocol for

a 24-month cluster randomised controlled

trial in primary care. BMC Fam Pract 2020,

21(1):36.

Rodin D, Tawk B, Mohamad O, Grover S,

Moraes F, Yap M, Zubizarreta E, Lievens

Y: Hypofractionated radiotherapy in the

real-world setting: An international ESTRO-

GIRO survey. Radiother Oncol 2021, 157:32-

39.

Rose L, Agar M, Burry L, Campbell

N, Clarke M, Lee J, Marshall J,

Siddiqi N, Page V, Development of

Core Outcome Sets for Effectiveness

Trials of Interventions to Prevent

and/or Treat Delirium G: Reporting of

Outcomes and Outcome Measures in

Studies of Interventions to Prevent and/

or Treat Delirium in the Critically Ill: A

Systematic Review. Crit Care Med 2020,

48(4):e316-e324.

Rose L, Burry L, Agar M, Blackwood B,

Campbell NL, Clarke M, Devlin JW, Lee

J, Marshall JC, Needham DM et al: A

core outcome set for studies evaluating

interventions to prevent and/or treat

delirium for adults requiring an acute care

hospital admission: an international key

stakeholder informed consensus study. BMC

Med 2021, 19(1):143.

Sands MB, Sharma S, Carpenter L,

Hartshorn A, Lee JT, Lujic S, Congdon

ME, Buchanan AM, Agar M, Vardy JL:

“SQiD, the Single Question in Delirium; can

a single question help clinicians to detect

delirium in hospitalised cancer patients?”

running heading Single Question in

Delirium” (Bcan-D-20-01665). BMC Cancer

2021, 21(1):75.


Schaefer I, Heneka N, Luckett T, Agar MR, Chambers SK, Currow DC, Halkett G, Disalvo D, Amgarth-Duff I, Anderiesz C et al: Quality of online self-management resources for adults living with primary brain cancer, and their carers: a systematic environmental scan. BMC Palliat Care 2021, 20(1):22.

Schofield P, Gough K, Pascoe M, Bergin R, White K, Mileshkin L, Bernshaw D, Kinnane NJ, M, Do V, Brand AA, S et al: a nurse- and peer-led psycho-educational intervention to support women with gynaecological cancers receiving curative radiotehrapy: The PeNTAGOn randomised controlled trial - ANZGOG 1102. Gynecol Oncol 2020, 159(3):785-793.

Scott J, Dundas K, Surjan Y, King O, Arumugam S, Deshpande S, Udovitch M, Lee M: Quantifying and Assessing the Dosimetric Impact of Changing Gas Volumes Throughout the Course of VMAT Radiation Therapy of Upper Gastrointestinal Tumours Advances in Radiation Oncology 2021, 6(3):100650.

Shafiq J, Gabriel GS, Barton MB: Radiotherapy service need in the Pacific Island countries. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 2020, https://doi.org/10.1111/ajco.13437.

Signorelli C, Wakefield CE, Johnston KA, Fardell JE, McLoone JK, Brierley ME, Schaffer M, Thornton-Benko E, Girgis A, Wallace WH et al: Re-Engage: A Novel Nurse-Led Program for Survivors of Childhood Cancer Who Are Disengaged From Cancer-Related Care. J Natl Compr Canc Netw 2020, 18(8):1067-1074.

Signorelli C, Wakefield CE, McLoone JK, Mateos MK, Aaronson NK, Lavoipierre A, Cohn RJ, Group ASS: A cost-effective approach to increasing participation in patient-reported outcomes research in cancer: A randomized trial of video invitations. Int J Cancer 2021, 148(4):971-980.

Singh T, Haque IU, Merrett N: Plug mesh repair of rare prevascular femoral hernia: a case report. ANZ J Surg 2020, 90(12), E219-E220.

Smith AB, Niu AY, Descallar J, Delaney GP, Wu VS, Agar MR, Girgis A: Clinical trials knowledge and attitudes of Vietnamese- and Anglo-Australian cancer patients: A cross-sectional study. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 2020, 16(5):e242-e251.

Smith B, Rincones O, Mancuso P, Sidhom M, Wong K, Berry M, Forstner D, Ngo D, Bokey L, Girgis A: Low conflict and high satisfaction: Decisional outcomes after attending a combined clinic to choose between robotic prostatectomy and radiotherapy for prostate cancer. Urol Oncol 2021, 21:S1078-1439.

Song HJ, Harris M, Li FY, Green J, Knight A: Connecting General Practitioners Through a Peer-Facilitated Community of Practice for Chronic Disease Care. Ann Fam Med 2020, 18(2):179.

Speight R, Dubec M, Eccles C, George B, Henry A, Herbet T, Johnstone R, Liney G, McCallum H, Schmidt M: IPEM topical report: guidance on the use of MRI for external beam radiotherapy treatment planning Phys Med Biol 2021. 66 (2021) 075007

Strutt R: When to refer patients with advanced COPD to palliative care services. Breathe (Sheff) 2020, 16(3):200061.

Sun LL, Lai HZ, Chen ZZ, Zhu XS, Lin LZ: Modified Liujunzi Decoction () Alleviates Chemotherapy-Induced Anorexia in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Propensity Score Matched Case-Control Study. Chin J Integr Med 2020, 26(4):256-262.

Trivedi S, Tang S, Byth K, Stefani L, Lo Q, Otton J, Jameson M, Tran D, Batumalai V, Holloway L et al: Segmental Cardiac Radiation Dose Determines Magnitude of Regional Cardiac Dysfunction. JAHA - Journal of the American Heart Association 2021, 10(7):e019476.

Van Leeuwen MT, Luu S, Gurney H, Brown MR, Pearson SA, Webber K, Hunt L, Hong S, Delaney GP, Vajdic CM: Cardiovascular Toxicity of Targeted Therapies for Cancer: An Overview of Systematic Reviews. JNCI Cancer Spectr 2020, 4(6):pkaa076.

Vasista A, Ryan L, Naher S, Moylan E, Stockler MR, Wilcken N, Kiely BE: Survival and cardiac toxicity in patients with HER2-positive, metastatic breast cancer treated with trastuzumab in routine clinical practice. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol 2020, 16(1):34-38.

Vetsch J, Wakefield CE, Tucker KM, McCarthy M, Signorelli C, Walwyn T, Alvaro F, Cohn RJ, Group ASS: Genetics-related service and information needs of childhood cancer survivors and parents: a mixed-methods study. Eur J Hum Genet 2020, 28(1):6-16.

Vinod S, Wellege N, Kim S, Duggan K, M I, Shafiq J: Translation of oncology multidisciplinary team meeting (MDM) recommendations into clinical practice. BMC Health Serv Res 2021, 21(461).

Vinod SK, Hau E: Radiotherapy treatment for lung cancer: Current status and future directions. Respirology 2020, 25 Suppl 2:61-71.

Wang Y, Tadimalla S, Rai R, Goodwin J, Foster S, Liney G, Holloway L, Haworth A: Quantitative MRI: Defining repeatability, reproducibility and accuracy for prostate cancer imaging biomarker development. Magn Reson Imaging 2021, 77:169-179.

Weber MF, Sarich PEA, Vaneckova P, Wade S, Egger S, Ngo P, Joshy G, Goldsbury DE, Yap S, Feletto E et al: Cancer incidence and cancer death in relation to tobacco smoking in a population-based Australian cohort study. Int J Cancer 2021, 149(5):1076-1088.

Weinkove R, McQuilten ZK, Adler J, Agar MR, Blyth E, Cheng AC, Conyers R, Haeusler GM, Hardie C, Jackson C et al: Managing haematology and oncology patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: interim consensus guidance. Med J Aust 2020, 212(10):481-489.

Wilson BE, Jacob S, Do V, Amir E, Bray F, Ferlay J, Knaul FM, Elawawy A, Pearson SA, Barton MB: Are NCCN Resource-Stratified Guidelines for Breast Cancer Systemic Therapy Achievable? A Population-Based Study of Global Need and Economic Impact. JCO Glob Oncol 2021, 7:1074-1083.

Wong P, Gaszynski R, Gray A, Ghali M, Farooque Y, Merrett N: First reported case series of Candida krusei peritonitis secondary to a perforated viscus. International Surgery Journal 2020, 7(10):3428-3431.

Xiao Z, Hu L, Lin J, Lu L, Huang X, Zhu X, Teo C, Lin L: Efficacy and safety of Jianpishengsui for chemotherapy-related fatigue in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: study protocol for a randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial. Trials 2020, 21(1):94.

Yuen J, Barber J, Ralston A, Gray A, Walker A, Hardcastle N, Schmidt L, Harrison K, Poder J, Sykes JR et al: An international survey on the clinical use of rigid and deformable image registration in radiotherapy. J Appl Clin Med Phys 2020, 21(10):10-24.

Zhao Q, Zheng S, Delaney GP, Moylan E, Agar MR, Koh ES, Lai H, Birling Y, Zhang GS, Wang K et al: Acupuncture for Cancer Related Pain: Protocol for a Pragmatic Randomised Wait-List Controlled Trial. Integr Cancer Ther 2020, 19:1534735420976579.


COVID-19 VACCINATION FOR PEOPLE WITH CANCERThe staff of the Cancer Therapy Centre would like to encourage you and your close contacts to get vaccinated as soon as possible especially if you have any future appointments with us in the Cancer Therapy Centre and especially if you are about to undergo treatment. If you would like a vaccination please discuss this with your local GP or pharmacy.

Getting immediately vaccinated would provide the following benefits to you:

1. 1Vaccination reduces the risk of you catching Covid-19

2. Vaccination reduces the risk of severe illness if you catch COVID-19.

3. Vaccination of your close contacts reduces your risk of infection.

4. Vaccination reduces the exposure risk when you come into contact with our staff and the other patients. Many patients in our service have severe illnesses with reduced immunity.

5. For those patients commencing therapy, vaccination before treatment increases the effectiveness of the vaccine.

So please consider your risk and the risk of the other patients and staff and get a vaccine today if you have not been vaccinated.

For more detailed information about the vaccine and Cancer, go to:

https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/covid-19-vaccine-and-cancer

Mailing Address: Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool BC NSW 1871

T: 8738 9816 F: 8738 9837

E: [email protected]

Further copies of this document can be downloaded from the

South Western Sydney Local Health District website at:

www.swslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/cancer/annual.html

MAKING A DIFFERENCEWe help thousands of cancer patients and their families each year. Providing the best quality care and services can be enhanced through your generous gift.

DONATE TODAY TO HELP CANCER PATIENTS To donate online, go to our website at www.swslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/cancer and select ‘Donate Here’ button, or call us on (02) 8738 9816.

FUNDRAISE FOR CANCER CARE If you would like to fundraise for us through an event activity or your workplace, please call the fundraising team on (02) 8738 9815.

“I LOVE SEEING THE NURSES HERE AFTER MY TREATMENT, THEY ALWAYS HELP CHEER ME UP”

ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021

Documents

Transcript of ANNUAL REPORT 2020/2021