Cancer control | Health Navigator NZ

Information on cancer control and prevention for healthcare professionals.

Clinical guidelines and resources

Te Aho O Te Kahu | Cancer Control Agency NZ

Te Aho o Te Kahu, the Cancer Control Agency, is a newly established independent departmental agency. It is hosted by the Ministry of Health but reports directly to the Minister of Health. These new arrangements were formalised in December 2019 when Te Aho o Te Kahu was established to better recognise the impact cancer has on the lives of New Zealanders, and provide a sharp focus on this important health issue. Visit the links below for specific cancer care guidelines and resources.

Cancer Society NZ

Cancer Society Auckland Northland is an independent charity and is 100% community funded. The work they do includes:

conducting and funding world-class research that underpins the work in preventing cancer
supporting people as they navigate the cancer journey
advocating to ensure that governments take action on cancer.

Visit the links below for referral to supportive care including driving and accommodation for cancer patients:

Find out more here.

Palliative care resources

Defining palliative care

Palliative care is an approach that aims to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing a life-threatening illness. Prevention and relief of suffering is achieved by means of early identification, thorough assessment and treatment of pain and other problems – physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

The palliative care handbook

The aim of this resource is to make palliative care understandable for healthcare professionals, using clear logical layout and understandable explanations of how to manage and cope with problems that can be very challenging. It includes sections on dementia, nutrition and prescribing. The handbook is useful in any place where palliative care happens – it gives confidence to those who use and it and therefore hopefully comfort to the people approaching the end of their lives.

Download the handbook here.

Standards for palliative care Hospice NZ
Te Ara Whakapiri: Principles and guidance for the last days of life Ministry of Health, NZ
Palliative care and Māori from a health literacy perspective Ministry of Health, NZ
New Zealand palliative care glossary Ministry of Health, NZ
Referral criteria for adult palliative care services in New Zealand Ministry of Health, NZ

Continuing professional development

Goodfellow MedTalks

Health equity and Māori cancer care Goodfellow MedTalk, NZ, 2020

Education and courses

The palliative care bridge Educational videos and resources on palliative care by respected experts and specialists in their fields.
Programme of courses Te Omanga Hospice, Lower Hutt, NZ

Regional HealthPathways NZ

Access to the following regional pathways is localised for each region and access is limited to health providers. If you do not know the login details, contact your DHB or PHO for more information: