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Melbourne General Practice Network

Cancer

The role of primary health care professionals in cancer care is rarely clearly defined. The cancer related workload of a primary health care professional will commonly involve prevention, screening, dealing with patients that present with suspicious symptoms or concerns, dealing with the psychosocial, psychological and general health concerns of cancer patients and their families, survivorship health management and palliative care (McAvoy, 200; Demagny, Holtedahl, Bachimont, Thorsen, Letourmy & Bungener, 2009; PHCRIS, 2009). As a result of these varied roles, responsibilities and best practice requirements, the Melbourne General Practice Network’s Cancer program aims to promote best practice / health service in primary health care, provide information, training, education and resources to all practices within the MGPN catchment as well as providing individualised support to meet the specific needs of a practice or primary health service.

The MGPN’s Cancer program will be continuously evaluated and improved with the assistance of MGPN members in order to reflect and support the evolving needs of our primary health services.

For more information

If you would like to contribute to MGPN’s Cancer program or for further information and support please contact Genevieve O’Neill on (03) 9347 1188 or genevieve.oneill@mgpn.com.au

 Reference List
Demagny, L. Holtedahl, K. Bachimont, J. Thorsen, T. Letourmy, A. & Bungener, M. (2009). General practiioners’ role in cancer care: a French- Norwegian study. BMC Research Notes. 200(2). Cited, December, 21st, 2011, from www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/2/200.

McAvoy, B. (2007). General Practitioners and cancer control. Medical Journal of Australia. 187 (2): 115-117.

PHCRIS, (2009). The primary care role for people with cancer. Research Roundup. 5 (2009). Cited, December, 21st, from www.phcris.org.au/phplib/filedownload.php?file=/elib/lib/downloaded_files/publications/pdfs/news_8110.pdf