New national guidance is being developed to help provide a standardised approach to the management of prostate cancer and ensure New Zealand men have access to the most appropriate and high quality prostate cancer care.
The Ministry of Health is seeking feedback on two sets of draft guidance from health professionals, professional bodies and service providers involved in providing prostate cancer care. One set of guidance will help GPs and other primary care health professionals manage men who request a prostate cancer test or have symptoms suggestive of prostate cancer. The other will support urologists to provide active surveillance for men with localised, low risk prostate cancer.
During January through to 20 February 2015, feedback on the draft guidance is being sought from a wide range of health professionals, professional bodies and organisations.
It is anticipated that both sets of guidance will be available for use by health professionals in June 2015.
Based on the recommendations of the Prostate Cancer Taskforce, the draft guidance reflects current best practice and has been developed by members of the primary care and specialist sub-groups of the Prostate Cancer Working Group.
It forms a key element of the Awareness and Quality Improvement Programme being implemented by the Ministry of Health over a four-year period which aims to improve prostate cancer outcomes and the quality and equity of prostate cancer care.
The draft guidance documents are available until February 20 – Click the links below:
Prostate cancer management and referral guidance_Feedback document.pdf
Prostate cancer active surveillance guidance_Feedback document.pdf
The Prostate Cancer Foundation is making a coordinated response to these documents. If you would like to contribute your comments please send them before Friday 13 February to ceo@prostate.org.nz