Australia to transfer prostate cancer nurse funding to McGrath Foundation
In Australia, federal funding for the specialist nurse program for prostate cancer patients will be transferred from Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia (PCFA) to the McGrath Foundation from July next year. This is part of the government's transition to a care model for patients with all types of cancer, ABC News Australia reports.
Funding for 60 positions
Last month, the federal government announced the transfer of A$46.5 million to the McGrath Foundation over five years. This amount corresponds to funding for 60 full-time nursing positions.
Special Envoy for Men's Health Dan Repacholi said the funding level for nurses caring for prostate cancer patients would be maintained, and all transferred funds would be directed to specialist nursing care for this patient group.
According to him, current nurses will have the opportunity to move to the McGrath Foundation and, where possible, retain their jobs and connections with patients. If a nurse does not agree to transfer, the foundation will hire an employee for the relevant position. Repacholi stressed that this is not a funding cut, but a transfer of the contract as part of a national cancer care model.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Concerns of the specialized foundation
PCFA said the change could put at risk the specialized expertise accumulated by nurses over years of working with prostate cancer patients. Director of Nursing Sally Sara said several nurses from the network had already contacted the foundation because they were seeking other positions.
PCFA Chief Executive Officer Anne Savage said the foundation had no grievances against the McGrath Foundation, but believes specialist nurses are not interchangeable with general oncology service staff. PCFA plans to use all available means to protect its services, including seeking parliamentary consideration and examining contractual and legal rights.
In addition to the 60 government-funded positions, PCFA provides another 24 full-time positions through donations and corporate sponsors. The foundation said it would retain responsibility for them, fulfill existing arrangements, and continue fundraising for specialist nursing care for prostate cancer patients.
