Help shape the future of Metro North and RBWH cancer care services

Community members are being invited to contribute to the future of cancer care services for Australia’s largest public health service.

From Monday 22 September until Friday 3 October 2025, stakeholders can complete a survey and provide feedback on a Service Needs Assessment background paper which outlines current cancer service needs and arrangements, future projections and emerging innovations in cancer care.

Acting Executive Director RBWH Cancer Care Services, Associate Professor Melissa Eastgate said that stakeholder feedback is instrumental in developing a future clinical services plan that delivers exceptional care for patients, staff and community.

“This feedback will help inform the development of a revised and comprehensively updated clinical services plan to support Metro North and RBWH cancer services over the next decade.

The 10-year plan is expected to provide a contemporary view of how cancer care services should evolve to improve access to safe, high-quality care, improve patient experience, and optimise the use of available resources,” Associate Professor Eastgate said.

“It will cover issues such as workforce, infrastructure, and technology considerations.”

Queensland Cancer Centre Senior Project Manager Holly McMillan, who is coordinating planning activities, emphasised the importance of stakeholder feedback in shaping the future clinical plan.

“The Service Needs Assessment provides current, robust information to guide the development of the new clinical services plan when it commences next year,” Holly said.

“We are inviting feedback from consumers with lived experience of cancer care services, as well as our network of clinical partners, to complete the survey.

“Importantly, input from Metro North cancer service clinicians and stakeholders has the potential to significantly influence the future of our cancer care services, and we strongly encourage staff to participate in the survey process.”

According to Holly, a co-design process is required to help effectively plan the delivery of cancer care services that are responsive to the projected health care needs of the population and the expectations of the community.

“Service planning involves a collaborative approach that brings together key data, evidence and stakeholder insights, and guides the development of services to meet a wide variety of stakeholder needs,” she said.

Planning is being undertaken by the Metro North Health Queensland Cancer Centre Project Team, in partnership with the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital Cancer Care Service and the Metro North Service Strategy and Planning team.

For more information and to access the survey visit the Cancer services plan site.