Primary Health Care extended their services in the community for patients who have recovered from cancer and who from time to time need surveillance tests to prevent the recurrence of cancer.
Until now this service is being offered to patients who have had prostate and thyroid cancer in the past, however the idea is to expand the service to other types of cancer.
In a visit to the H’Attard community clinic, one of the clinics where the Cancer Survivorship Clinic is working, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health Chris Fearne met some of the patients who are make use of this service. He spoke with them about the health authorities’ plan to provide more services in the community and how an initiative such as the cancer survivorship clinic is preventing the same patients from going to Mater Dei Hospital for these tests.
Until now there are 87 patients who are using this service. Doctor JP Tabone, who is running these clinics explained how patients are referred by their consultants, surgeons or oncologists to this service and that when they come for the appointment, the Primary Care doctors, who specialize in this field, inspect them holistically in order to also address medical issues that are not necessarily related to cancer. The Deputy Prime Minister praised the leadership of the Primary Health Care of this initiative, while wishing that the service will continue to expand in the near future.
Photos: MFH
