Optimal Cancer Care Pathways

Optimal Cancer Care Pathways (OCCP) describe contemporary best practice guidance and expectations for the delivery of optimal cancer care by tumour type. Each OCCP has been designed in partnership with the sector:

• with the needs of the person and their whānau (family) at the heart
• to reflect the best service capabilities available in New Zealand
• to provide a national expectation of equitable, high-quality, timely, and evidence-based cancer prevention and care for all New Zealanders.

OCCPs support the delivery of consistent, safe, high quality, timely, and evidence-based care for people affected by cancer.  The OCCPs are a pathway for organisational system leaders and service providers to help: 

• identify centres of excellence and share learnings with others
• identify gaps in existing cancer services 
• address barriers and unwarranted variations people may face in accessing high-quality care 
• identify opportunities for system improvements 
• continually improve how services are planned and coordinated over time. 

Current Optimal Cancer Care Pathways
Working with the sector, Te Aho o Te Kahu Cancer Control Agency developed pathways for 16 types of cancer - eight for tumour cancers and eight for blood cancers. This work involved people and whānau who have experienced cancer, non-government cancer organisations, the Agency’s clinical working and advisory groups and many people and experts across the health sector. 

The Optimal Cancer Care Pathways include a:

• Principles document (PDF 1.09MB and Word 3.03KB) which outlines the eight principles on which each OCCP is built 
• Supplementary Information document (PDF 969KB and Word 894KB) which provides guidance on achieving Pae Ora; equity and whānau insights; questions to support the person/ whānau; definitions; tumour volumes; OCCP tumour references and bibliographies.
• a Pathway document (Edition One) for each of eight blood or tumour cancers - links are listed below.

We will review and update these documents as required.