Home

New Geraldton haematology service saves Mid West patients trip to Perth

Phoebe PinGeraldton Guardian
Midwest Cancer Centre nurse coordinator Lindsey Richmond, Dr Allan Pelkowitz and project officer Qasim Rehman.
Camera IconMidwest Cancer Centre nurse coordinator Lindsey Richmond, Dr Allan Pelkowitz and project officer Qasim Rehman. Credit: Picture: Phoebe Pin

Regional residents with blood disorders can now receive treatment closer to home, thanks to a service expansion at the Midwest Cancer Centre.

WA Country Health Service has partnered with Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital to provide the first-of-its-kind public haematology service to the region.

Specialist haematologists Dr Rebecca Howman and Dr Brad Augustson will deliver treatments at the Midwest Cancer Centre outpatient clinics, with about 23 patients receiving consults each Friday.

Around 20 patients will also access care through telehealth services every week.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

WACHS regional medical director Dr Allan Pelkowitz said the on-site service will mean hundreds of patients with blood disorders like chronic or subacute lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and myeloma will no longer have to travel to Perth for care.

“There is a lot more that we can do now with a doctor and a team present rather than sending every patient to Perth with that kind of diagnosis,” he said.

Project officer Qasim Rehman said having access to healthcare closer to home meant patients could dedicate more of their time and energy to loved ones.

“It reduces significantly the time spent away from family and away from work,” he said.

Care is individually focussed and we want to make sure it works for the patient and the complexity of life these days.

“We are being mindful that patients need to have treatment in the right place, so someone needing a stem cell transplant may end up having the initial diagnosis here, have their treatment in Perth and then their follow-up will be a shared care model,” she said.

“Care is individually focussed and we want to make sure it works for the patient and the complexity of life these days.”

Patients are referred to the cancer centre for assessment by their GPs, with local doctors invited to attend an information session on August 27 to discuss how Geraldton haematologists can further serve the community.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails