Poster Presentation 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

Consumer co-designed Virtual Tour of Bendigo Regional Cancer Centre  (126444)

Melissa Ms Loorham 1 , Tanya Ms Smith 1 , Julie Ms Symons 2 , Philip Mr McGuffie 1
  1. Cancer Centre, Bendigo Health, Bendigo, Victoria, Australia
  2. Loddon Mallee Integrated Cancer Service, Bendigo, VICTORIA, Australia

Background: Former patients and carers recognised a lack of information and support to navigate the cancer journey for new patients entering cancer services. A consumer representative on the Loddon Mallee Integrated Cancer Services (LMICS) Governance group raised this challenge and conceptualised an innovative idea to address the need after being involved in the VICS optimal care summit, 2021meeting. The need and gap were further validated:

  • Service level recognition that no central on-boarding processes existed to guide and orientate new people with cancer.
  • Broader consultation with over 100 consumers and clinician as part of the Regional Cancer Services planning process undertaken by Bendigo Health in 2022.

 

Aim: To develop a Virtual Tour for new cancer patients and their families that could provide information and navigation support at the first visit to the Cancer Centre. The Virtual tour aimed to provide a visual walk through, explaining what to expect, meeting key staff and learning about services available.

 

Method: This consumer co- inspired project was undertaken using co-design methods over 12 months, involving:

  • Consumers, in every step from inception, drafting the script, working group, to production of authentic product
  • Clinicians, and other health services partners

 

Results: The virtual tour was launched and published on YouTube in April 2023. It has been evaluated via weblink hits, usage and by new patients and embedded into regular communications at the Cancer Centre for all new patients. The virtual tour has recently been translated into Auslan by Expressions Australia making it fully inclusive to the deaf community.

 

Conclusion: Partnering with consumers with a lived experience can inform and drive the development of appropriate resources that ensures a truly patient focused approach to service delivery.