Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

Implementation of Optimal care pathway for Lung Cancer in Regional cancer centre (142958)

Zulfiquer Otty 1 2 , abhishek joshi 1 2 , Daniel Xing 1 2 , pradeep rajagopalan 1 , Shiv Pathmanathan 1
  1. Townsville University Hospital, Townsville, QLD, Australia
  2. College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia

Background:

Townsville University Hospital has implemented the national Optimal Care Pathway (OCP) for Lung Cancer, which focuses on rapid access, digital primary care integration, and multidisciplinary coordination to overcome regional care delays. 

 Methods:

 Initial process mapping-2017-2018

  • Implementing Townsville Lung Cancer Referral Pathway (TLCRP): May 2019
  • Expansion of Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) Meetings
  • Rapid Access Lung Cancer Treatment Clinic: Started in 2024
  • Telehealth Integration: Tele-trials programme
  • Lung Cancer Nurse navigators- since 2025
  • Multidisciplinary lung nodule clinic: starting in 2026

 

Outcomes:

 

  1. The time interval from initial GP presentation to initial specialist referral was significantly reduced after implementation of Townsville Lung Cancer Referral pathway.
  2. Waiting time for Specialist Clinic appointment and biopsies were reduced significantly.
  3. 80% of patients were seen by medical oncologists or radiation oncologists within 1 week of Lung Cancer Multi-disciplinary meeting.
  4. Interval from initial specialist consultation to start of treatment significantly reduced.

 

Conclusions:

 Optimal Care Pathway for Lung Cancer can be implemented in regional cancer centres and significantly improves patient outcomes