Background: The National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) commenced July 2025, requiring targeted health services to establish lung nodule models of care for participants with high-risk findings for investigation. National modelling predicted 155 referrals and 42 lung cancer detections in the North Eastern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Service (NEMICS) region in the first year. In early 2025, NEMICS initiated a network strategy to support implementation across Austin Health, Eastern Health and Northern Health, aligned with Victorian Department of Health (DH) guidance.
Aim: To apply a coordinated network strategy to achieve NLCSP readiness and model of care implementation across three metropolitan health services and evaluate its impact on lung cancer outcomes during the first 12 months.
Methods: The network strategy supported shared planning, clinician and executive engagement, and collaborative learning. NEMICS shared modelling data, represented health services on the Victorian Regional Lung Nodule Clinics Advisory Group, coordinated readiness gap analyses, advocated for DH investment, and convened a NEMICS NLCSP Implementation Planning Forum. Business cases and funding applications were supported.
Results: The 30 multidisciplinary Forum participants shared strategies for clinical pathways, service capacity, workforce readiness, data monitoring, evaluation, equity and access. DH and NEMICS guidance and grant funding enabled scalable lung nodule models of care, including nurses, clinics and multidisciplinary meetings, with one service also implementing screening and automated reporting to the National Cancer Screening Register. Since commencement, the region has managed 107 NLCSP referrals, with 45 confirmed lung cancer diagnoses in the first 12 months, which is 69% and 107% of predicted modelling respectively. Learnings and opportunities were shared across services.
Conclusion: A network-driven strategy accelerated equitable NLCSP readiness and scalable lung nodule models of care across the NEMICS region, supporting coordinated assessment of high-risk nodules and earlier lung cancer detection. Sustainability, scale-up, patient experience and broader service impacts remain future priorities.