Summary
The Cancer Nurse Coordinator Initiative (CNCI) was established in 2012 when the Government provided additional funding to establish 40 new nursing roles. The purpose of these roles was to provide better care coordination for people newly diagnosed with cancer as they enter the health system for their treatment.
This final evaluation report shows that the CNCI has:
- improved access and timeliness of access to diagnostic and treatment services for patients
- improved patient experience through diagnosis and initiation of treatment
- identified areas for improvement in care coordination and the patient pathway.
The evaluation also showed that while the CNCI targets those with complex needs, Māori and Pacific people are not accessing the service to expected levels. Identifying and removing barriers that are preventing Māori and Pacific peoples benefitting from more coordinated cancer care should be a focus for DHBs as the service and workforce evolves.
The final report should be read alongside the 2015 Annual Report which outlines the findings in more detail.