In March 2020, the VCCC and MPCCC joined forces to create the Victorian COVID-19 Cancer Network (VCCN). As a workforce-led initiative, this provided an agile cancer sector response to the rapidly evolving issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic which affected everything from treatment guidelines to staff wellbeing.
This network saw MPCCC and VCCC to work together for the first time, connecting our respective research and health service partners, and working in unison with the regional cancer centres, the Victorian Integrated Cancer Services (ICS) and Cancer Council Victoria (CCV), community organisations, and others.
As the year progressed, it became clear that this new collaborative clinical network was meeting a need beyond the current pandemic and had the potential to have a lasting legacy and role into the future.
A recent survey of VCCN members found that 82 per cent believe the VCCN was beneficial or extremely beneficial to the cancer response during the pandemic. This rose to 100 per cent among rural and regional respondents. Further, 98.5 per cent saw an ongoing role for the VCCN to address issues such as planning for post-pandemic surge in cancer cases and preparation for future pandemics.
This new network has demonstrated a united and engaged Victorian cancer sector that has been able to rapidly and reliably respond to the clinical cancer challenges presented by COVID-19 within a respectful, patient-focused and compassionate framework.
Given an extended period of delayed cancer diagnoses due to COVID-19, the VCCN Taskforce anticipates several significant clinical challenges for cancer care in Victoria in 2021, including prioritising patient management, services and treatments. The existing VCCN framework, the expertise of its membership and embedded consumer perspective, has potential to assist the response to these challenges. We will, therefore, be seeking ways to continue into the new year.
“This has been an extraordinary demonstration of collaboration to tackle a shared problem, and the genuine commitment of Victoria’s cancer workforce to ensuring patients get optimal care in every circumstance,” said Professor Grant McArthur, VCCC Executive Director and Co-Chair of the VCCN.
“On behalf of the four VCCN Taskforce Chairs, I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has participated and contributed over the year. I look forward to continuing to work together in 2021.”
750 subscribers representing over 100 organisations
17 Expert Groups
43 Taskforce members
17 Cancer and COVID-19 webinars with a total audience of 5600
In-kind contributions from 45 organisations
Two public awareness campaigns with social media reach of over 500,000
Image: Chairs of the VCCN Taskforce, A/Prof Zee Wan Wong, A/Prof Sue Anne McLachlan and Prof Grant McArthur (absent Dr Andrew Haydon) with Chair of the VCCN Clinical Directors Group Dr Phillip Parente at a first non-virtual network meeting
