OncologyOncology
The Oncology Unit at NHW enables people living or staying in North East Victoria the opportunity to have specialised chemotherapy treatment in a caring and professional facility situated within their local region.
The Oncology Unit provides chemotherapy treatment to people being treated for cancer. It also provides some non-chemotherapy treatments for people with other medical conditions.
Where is the Oncology Unit?
The Oncology Unit is situated on the First Floor of the hospital. Enter through the main doors off Green Street, go up the stairs or lift and turn left.
Who works in the Oncology Unit?
The Oncology Unit is staffed by an enthusiastic and dedicated team of Registered Nurses who have all specialised in chemotherapy and cancer nursing.
Medical support is provided at all times by a referring Oncologist and by the medical staff at NHW.
What other services are available?
Other support services such as dietitian, stomal therapist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, district nurses, palliative care or social workers can be accessed through the Oncology Unit as required.
 Oncology Unit Brochure | type: pdf | size: 1 MB |
New Oncology Unit for NHW
Northeast Health Wangaratta's Oncology Department was established at the Wangaratta District Base Hospital in 1990. It initially started with one clinical nurse consultant who worked twenty hours a week. The Oncology Unit's catchment area covers the Hume Region, travelling from as far as Mansfield, Benalla, Violet Town, Myrtleford, Yarrawonga, Rutherglen and of course Wangaratta.
Since its inception in 1990 the demand for services has seen the Oncology Unit grow to operate forty hours per week, employing two clinical nurse consultants and four registered nurses who have all specialised in chemotherapy and cancer nursing.
Current statistics by the Victorian Cancer Registry show that during the period 2001-2003 there were 150 individuals each year in the Rural City of Wangaratta diagnosed with cancer, 55% male and 45% female. 60 deaths per year were recorded. The most common cancers identified were prostate, breast, bowel, lung, leukaemia, bladder, head and neck. Northeast Health Wangaratta staff treat 50 patients each week. Whilst the majority of the work undertaken is the treatment of cancer, the unit also provides other treatments such as blood and iron transfusion and the administration of certain specialist drugs. Some of the treatments can take up to six hours to administer and patients need to be comfortable as they often spend long days in the unit. At times, patients are quite unwell and a comfortable and supportive environment makes a huge difference.
Despite the Oncology Unit operating for a number of years now, many people are still unaware of this service offered locally. People usually don't know about it until they are affected by cancer themselves. A diagnosis of cancer can be an extremely frightening time for not only the individual but also for their entire family. Having a treatment centre close to home takes the anxiety away and enables families to stay with their loved one, continuing with their lives whilst undergoing treatment.
Concept Plan of the New Unit.
How Can You Help?
The demand for Oncology services in the area has increased dramatically and the Unit has outgrown it's current first floor location with inadequate circulation space between patient treatment chairs, congestion due to limited floor area and storage space, lack of privacy and confidentiality, clinical risk in the event of patient collapse or cardiac arrest and shared toilet facilities are external to the Unit.
The proposed new Oncology Unit will address all current issues by increasing the Unit space from 54.7m2 in the existing unit to 156m2 in the new unit, which will be located on the ground floor directly in front of the main entrance and foyer. Increased circulation space between patient treatment areas, a private interview room for patient and family discussions and counselling, infrastructure upgrades to promote staff and patient safety and improve comfort conditions, internal patient amenities, large storage facilities and an improved outlook for patients are just some of the improvements that will come with the new unit.
To build the new Oncology unit we need the support and generosity of our local community to raise $250,000. To make a donation or pledge, please contact Northeast Health Wangaratta's Community Relations Manager, Tanya Tatulaschwili on (03) 5722 0448, email: tanya.tatulaschwili@nhw.hume.org.au