Project Promise has been set up by Northland Community Foundation (NCF) to raise funds, through community fundraising to build a new Oncology Facility in Whangarei to better serve the people of Northland.
The initial assessment of funds to be raised to complete this project was $3,000,000 in three years however that figure has to be formally confirmed through a concept design process which is now in the final stages.
There is a Memorandum of Understanding between NCF and Northland District Health Board (NDHB) which clarifies expectations of both parties. The building will be owned by the NCF on behalf of the people of Northland with the NDHB managing and delivering the services.
The Oncology unit will primarily be an ambulatory facility for the delivery of chemotherapy treatment and multi‐disciplinary outpatient consultations.
Project Promise will benefit the majority of the people of Northland, from cancer patients through to family (whanau) and friends.
Project Promise launched on March 19th 2010 and in the first 15 months has fundraised over $650,000 which is an amazing result from a community that has high unemployment and is categorised as needing increased levels of social support.
This achievement has come through community innovation and recognition that Northland needs an oncology facility that better fits the cancer journey of patients and their family (whanau).
This is the largest project ever undertaken by a Community Foundation throughout New Zealand and support from business, organisations, clubs and people is key to the $3 million in 3 years challenge.
In terms of the management of fundraising, the aim of the NCF is to ensure that event delivery costs are minimised by seeking reduced or zero cost support from local business and from people in the community whose expertise/service/product is needed for fundraising activities.
We are pleased to note that the research and endeavours of the voluntary project team has already secured significant savings.
Events do profile the project and subsequently bring in donations and good financial planning has also ensured profitability with each fundraiser.
NCF recognises that their endeavours to use local support and services also contribute to the growth of the community. Where appropriate, funds for project expenditure are sought through grants from funding providers.
Why build a cancer centre?
The decision to manage this project came about after recognising that the rural structure of Northland was not wholly recognised in the treatment of cancer patients.
Health performance shows that timescales for treatment is met; however this measurement does not incorporate the financial, emotional and physical toll of constant travel to Auckland.
It was also recognised that the current Whangarei facility would not be extended to allow for the evident increase in the numbers of cancer patients resulting in more patients having to travel to Auckland for treatment.
The following points summarise why the people of Northland chose to raise the funds themselves:
- To provide a facility for patients (Adults and Children) and their whanau who are living with cancer to receive chemotherapy treatment on an outpatient basis, and to attend appointments with visiting and local specialists and other members of the multi‐disciplinary team.
- To assist in increasing the capacity and capability of oncology services provided in Northland and further reduce the need for patients to travel to Auckland for their treatment.
- To recognise population growth and ageing – statistics that show higher than average cancer in the Northland area including a high number of Maori patients and high incidence of cancer in Maori
- To better the current facility which is space limited and therefore; family is unable to support patients; lack of privacy, particularly when the patient is feeling unwell or when discussions with health professionals need to occur; limited access to treatment beds (only two are available) – patients are often unwell and sitting in a chair for eight hours while being given complex chemotherapy regimes; patients, whanau and staff must be vigilant and aware of potential hazards (eg. equipment, electric leads, iv lines); no space for group sessions, consultations with members of the multi‐disciplinary team, or education etc.
- Patients and their family must wait in the Outpatients waiting area for long periods and also walk through the outpatient area to access the oncology treatment room
- Children have to have their chemotherapy in the children’s ward ‐ vulnerability of children undergoing chemotherapy and their exposure to other children in the Child Health Centre who are unwell.
Finally a few words from some cancer patients:
“Sometimes I feel so worn out after my treatment, it would be so good to have a place where I can rest up and re‐charge the batteries before going home”
“In an ideal world it would make sense if you could see the dietician or social worker after your treatment or clinic appointment but there’s not enough room for that here – she would need to sit on my knee”
“The nurses are wonderful, but I feel such a freak walking through out‐patients – everyone knows where I’m going and I feel on show – it would be great to have a place where we could have our treatments and see the specialists”
For more information please contact:
Susie Fordyce
Trustee Northland Community Foundation
Telephone (09) – 4340803 or Mobile 021 431014
