The New Zealand government recently released its first national child cancer service plan, which aims to strengthening child cancer services by achieving national agreement on a service delivery model that is clinically safe, effective, and sustainable. The Ministry of Health and the National Health Board developed the cancer service plan in conjunction with District Health Boards (DHBs) and the Paediatric Oncology Steering Group, the medical associations, and patient advocacy groups.
The plan recommends that New Zealand have a two-center model to deliver pediatric oncology specialist services, at Starship Children's Hospital at Auckland DHB and Christchurch Hospital at Canterbury DHB, with shared care arrangements with District Health Boards across New Zealand. The plan would also establish a National Clinical Network for Child Cancer Services in New Zealand, which would be responsible for implementing the plan and overseeing care.
Approximately 150 new cases of child cancer are diagnosed annually in New Zealand, with about 320 children receiving active treatment at any one time.
Sources:
http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/national-plan-child-cancer-services-nz-nov2010
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/4399762/Child-cancer-leader-vows-shared-care-will-be-safe/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/4391018/Former-DHB-chief-alarmed-by-national-child-cancer-plan
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/4378386/Capital-child-cancer-care-in-doubt-again