Oncology & Haematology

back to Services listing

What is the Haematology/Oncology Service and what does it offer a registrar?

Midland Cancer Network

The Regional Cancer Centre, located at Waikato Hospital, Hamilton comprises an inpatient ward, day care and chemotherapy suite, outpatient department, and radiation treatment facility.

The service itself spans medical and radiation oncology, haematology and palliative care with staff actively involved with service development both at a local and national level. 

We co-ordinate outreach and community based services from this centre providing both service and support to the Midland region. 

A key focus for the service, in addition to quality of patient care, is research and staff education/development. 

This is borne out through our

• protected registrar training time
• dedicated consultant to registrar tuition
• high quality technology in both simulation and treatment, with planned expansion
• the Clinical Director’s commitment to training
• wide exposure through outreach and central services to all general oncological conditions and general pathology
• excellent collegial support across all disciplines within the service
• research initiatives
• conference opportunities
• a team focus at all levels.
  

Introduction:

The department services a wide geographical area with peripheral clinics covering, the greater Waikato District, Bay of Plenty and Lakes DHBs. The unit is centrally located in the Lomas Building on the Waikato Hospital site, with the following facilities:

• chemotherapy suite
• oncology and palliative care outpatients (haematology outpatients are provided for through central outpatients at the main hospital)
• all radiotherapy simulation, planning and treatment - including four linacs, advanced planning, HDR and dedicated
• CT scanner
• administration
• staff library and relaxation area
  

In addition

• the unit has a dedicated 30-bed inpatient ward
• runs peripheral clinics at Thames, Tauranga, Rotorua and Whakatane.
  

The Waikato region has easy access to east and west coast beaches, great sports facilities, skiing and rush-hour free traffic.

The Training Programme:

We have comprehensive training programmes in all four specialities - radiation, medical, haematology and palliative care. In addition, rotational positions for those seeking general experience are also available. Each speciality has an established training programme, which is co-ordinated and delivered by the clinical team. In addition to planned clinical tutorials, there is a weekly journal club and numerous speciality meeting and multidisciplinary meetings for example:

1. MDM - breast, chest, lymphoma, head & neck, etc
2. Monthly oncology round
3. Oncology weekly journal club
4. Radiation planning
5. New patient meeting for each service
   

Registrars are also actively encouraged to be part of clinical trials.

The clinical director and unit manager manage the unit.