SMICS‑Funded Initiatives Improve Cancer Care and Patient Support

Bayside Health’s Peninsula Care Group and Monash Health have successfully completed three initiatives through the Southern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service (SMICS) Funding Program 2024/25 funding round.

The Establishing a Molecular Oncology Care Pathway project and Nurse‑Led Oral Systemic Anti‑Cancer Therapy (SACT), both based at Bayside Health Peninsula Care Group, and Haematology Symptom Urgent Review Clinic (Haem‑SURC) at Monash Health, are locally delivered projects designed to enhance patient experience, improve clinical outcomes, and strengthen the efficiency and coordination of cancer care.

Bayside Health | Peninsula Care Group: Establishing a Molecular Oncology Care Pathway Project

The SMICS-funded Molecular Oncology Care Pathway Project at Bayside Health’s Peninsula Care Group significantly advanced precision cancer care for communities in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. By creating a centralised system for storing and accessing molecular pathology results and establishing a formalised care pathway, the project addressed gaps in coordination and equity. The introduction of a Molecular Oncology Care Coordinator (MOCC) provided much-needed patient support, streamlined referral pathways with key molecular oncology providers, and ensured vulnerable patients were guided through complex diagnostic and care processes.

The project demonstrated:

• 100% increase in the proportion of molecular reports viewable in the local Digital Medical Record (DMR),
• 66% increase in patients referred for molecular testing via the Cancer Screening Program (rising from 67 to 111),
• 73% increase in documented MTB discussions (from 60 to 104),
• and a 170% increase in Familial Cancer Centre referrals (from 10 to 27), collectively strengthening precision oncology coordination, data quality, and patient support.

Bayside Health | Peninsula Care Group: Nurse-Led Oral Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) Clinic

Bayside Health’s Peninsula Care Group also delivered a second major initiative: the Nurse‑Led Oral Systemic Anti‑Cancer Therapy (SACT) Clinic. With oral cancer therapies rapidly increasing in use and presenting toxicity risks that patients must self‑manage at home, SMICS funding enabled the establishment of a dedicated nurse‑led model that dramatically improved safety and oversight. The nurse‑led clinic provided structured education, consistent follow‑up, pharmacy‑led medication review and integrated supportive care.

Results show strong impact: 92% of identified patients were supported under the new model, patient education and follow‑up rates increased substantially, and telehealth‑enabled reviews freed medical capacity to focus on more complex cases.

Importantly, patient confidence in managing side effects rose markedly, highlighting the value of proactive, nurse‑led intervention.

Monash Health: Haematology Symptom Urgent Review Clinic (Haem‑SURC)

At Monash Health, the SMICS Funding Program supported the establishment of the Haematology Symptom Urgent Review Clinic (Haem‑SURC). The clinic addressed a critical service gap in symptom management for patients with blood cancers, particularly those managed in outpatient and decentralised care settings. Prior to implementation, patients frequently lacked a consistent, accessible point of contact for managing emerging symptoms. Operating primarily through telehealth and leveraging existing haematology, HITH and digital infrastructure, the SMICS‑funded clinic delivered rapid triage and coordinated escalation across a large and diverse patient population.

Between April and December 2025, Haem‑SURC managed 685 patient encounters, safely resolving the majority of symptoms without the need for Emergency Department presentation. Patient feedback confirmed high satisfaction, increased confidence in symptom management and a clearer understanding of escalation pathways. The evaluation of Haem‑SURC demonstrated strong feasibility, acceptability and integration within routine haematology workflows, laying a compelling foundation for ongoing funding and service expansion.

With funding support from SMICS, the Establishing a Molecular Oncology Care Pathway Project, Nurse-Led Oral Systemic Anti-Cancer Therapy (SACT) Clinic, and Haematology Symptom Urgent Review Clinic (Haem‑SURC) have enhanced equity, improved access to specialised expertise, strengthened patient safety, and supported more coordinated, patient‑centred cancer care across our partner health services.

About the SMICS Funding Program

The SMICS Funding Program provides eligible health services with funding to support innovative project applications that improve the quality of cancer patient care and experience. This program continues to play an important role in strengthening cancer care across the SMICS’s partner health services, Bayside Health’s Alfred Care Group and Bayside Health’s Peninsula Care Group, Cabrini Health, and Monash Health — supporting targeted cancer service improvement and redesign initiatives aligned with the Victorian Cancer Plan and Victorian Integrated Cancer Services (VICS) priorities.

Learn more about the SMICS Funding Program and explore our current and past projects.