WESTERN District Health Service (WDHS) has partnered with South West Healthcare (SWH) to help improve the close-to-home cancer specialist care with more frequent oncology visits to Hamilton.

From January next year, oncologist, Dr George Iatropoulos, will visit Hamilton on a weekly basis to provide quality care to people living with cancer in the local area.

WDHS chief executive, Rohan Fitzgerald, said the Hamilton Base Hospital cancer service had grown substantially in recent years and the new partnership would further enhance the treatments provided.

“We’re always looking to improve our services to meet the needs of our customers and this partnership will allow us to have a specialist oncologist on site every week, which is a great outcome for our patients,” he said.

Since 2016, WDHS has had a partnership with specialists from the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC), who currently visit Hamilton two to three times a month.

“We are very grateful to BRICC for providing these outreach clinics, which are ceasing early next year,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

The Cancer and Dialysis Centre first opened back in 2018 and since then WDHS has increased its services by 60 per cent, with the team delivering over 800 episodes of cancer care last year.

“When we first opened the Cancer Centre, our initial focus was day oncology, but in recent years we’ve also enhanced our cancer support programs to include a symptom urgent review clinic and cancer at home service,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

“Our aim has always been to support people with cancer to receive the best available care and treatments, as close to home as possible, and this new partnership is another step towards that goal.

“The service will continue to be publicly funded, with no out-of-pocket expenses incurred by patients.

“All other aspects of the local service, including our experienced Cancer Centre nursing team and the provision of chemotherapy and other treatments, will remain the same.”

Mr Fitzgerald said WDHS would be working closely with the BRICC and SWH to support patients with the transition. 

“Dr Iatropoulos is a highly regarded oncologist, with many years’ experience working both here and in the UK,” he said.

“He has a wonderful rapport with patients, and comprehensive care plans will be established to assist with the change.”

Dr Iatropoulos is highly skilled and experienced in the management of common cancers, with areas of expertise in gastro-oesophageal, liver, pancreatic, bile duct, colon, rectal, breast, lung and prostate cancers.

He completed oncology training in some of the biggest UK hospitals, such as Guy’s and St Thomas’ (London), and Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Birmingham).

After moving to Australia in 2016, he completed a two-year post-specialty fellowship at Austin Health/Olivia Newton John Cancer Centre, sub-specialising in Gastrointestinal and Breast cancers.

He has extensive clinical trial experience in Australia and overseas and has achieved several distinctions in the field of cancer research. He also holds a Master’s degree in Cancer Biology.

SWH chief executive, Mr Craig Fraser, said Dr Iatropoulos joined SWH at the beginning of 2022 and he hopes to provide quality care to those locals struggling with illness.

“We have been very pleased to welcome George to the region,” Mr Fraser said.

“He has brought new energy and ideas and has allowed us to expand the specialist oncology services that we already provide to our community by commencing new clinics both at Warrnambool and Camperdown locations.

“It is rewarding for SWH and WDHS to work in close partnership to deliver this service to the people of Hamilton.”