Oesophageal & gastric (stomach) cancer specialist centres NSW
Criteria for oesophagogastric cancer specialist centres
An oesophagectomy is surgery to remove the oesophagus. It is complex surgery, which requires a team of health care professionals with suitable experience performing this surgery and providing supportive care after surgery.[1]
Surgery to remove the stomach is called gastrectomy. It is also a complex surgery, which is similar to an oesophagectomy.
Australian and international studies indicate that patient outcomes can be improved when surgery for cancer of the oesophagus or stomach is performed in centres that do a high number of these procedures.[2-7]
It is recommended that oesophagus and stomach cancer specialist centres perform 6 oesophagectomies per year*
* This minimum suggested annual surgical caseload has been selected based on international studies, analysis of NSW data, and the hospital-level distribution of oesophagectomies in NSW.[2-7]
It is based on the number of oesophagectomies only. Due to similarities in anatomy, surgical complexity, and supportive care required, centres will be recommended for both oesophagectomy and gastrectomy if they meet the minimum suggested annual surgical caseload for oesophagectomy.
Multidisciplinary cancer care team availability
Patients with cancer of the oesophagus or stomach may have one or more types of treatments, including surgery, endoscopic treatments, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The involvement of a multidisciplinary cancer care team is required.[1] This team brings together health care professionals from different specialties to discuss a patient’s cancer diagnosis and staging, and their treatment options. It also enhances communication and care co-ordination between the specialists involved in a patient’s care.[8]
International studies show that patients overseen by a multidisciplinary cancer care team experience better outcomes after cancer treatment.[9-10]
List of specialist centres for oesophageal cancer and gastric cancer surgery
Actions for Health Professionals
Patient referral
Patients with a suspected or confirmed oesophageal or gastric cancer should be referred to a specialist who is a member of a multidisciplinary cancer care team and practices at one of the specialist centres listed below.
Even if surgery does not seem likely at the time of referral, involvement of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) early in the cancer journey is recommended to ensure optimal assessment, care, and outcomes.
The Canrefer website allows you to find cancer specialists who are MDT members, and has information about cancer services, optimal care pathways, and patient resources.
Smoking cessation support
Evidence suggests that tobacco cessation following cancer diagnosis improves survival. It also reduces treatment-related complications.[13–14] Health professionals should discuss tobacco use with all patients and provide appropriate cessation support.
List of public specialist centres for oesophageal cancer and gastric cancer surgery
Local health district | Hospital Name | Annual average oesophagectomy caseload Jan 2020 - Dec 2021 |
| Hunter New England | John Hunter | 13-16 |
| Nepean Blue Mountains | Nepean Hospital | 13-16 |
| South Western Sydney | Bankstown/Lidcombe Hospital | 13-16 |
Sydney | Royal Prince Alfred Hospital | 9-12 |
| South Eastern Sydney | Prince of Wales Hospital | 9-12 |
St Vincent's Health Network | St Vincent's Hospital Darlinghurst | 9-12 |
Murrumbidgee | Wagga Wagga Base Hospital | 9-12 |
Sydney | Concord | 6-8 |
| Illawarra Shoalhaven | Wollongong Hospital | 6-8 |
- Surgical caseload data sourced from Admitted Patient, Emergency Department Attendance, and Deaths Register (APEDDR) via Secure Analytics for Population Health Research and Intelligence (SAPHaRI), Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence, NSW Ministry of Health.
- In-scope procedures (oesophageal cancer): C15, C16.0
- In-scope procedures (oesophagectomy): 30535-00, 30536-00, 30536-01, 30541-00, 30541-01, 30545-00, 30545-01, 30550-00, 30550-01
- The data presented are for oesophagectomy only. Co-listing for gastrectomy is based on meeting the minimum suggested annual surgical caseload for oesophagectomy.
- The annual average surgical caseload is based on a two-year average, to account for annual variations in surgical volumes.
List of private specialist centres for oesophageal cancer and gastric cancer surgery
Local health district | Hospital Name | Annual average oesophagectomy caseload Jul 2019 - Jun 2021 |
| Northern Sydney | North Shore Private Hospital | 9-12 |
Sydney | Chris O'Brien Lifehouse | 9-12 |
Northern Sydney | Sydney Adventist Private | 9-12 |
| Chris O'Brien Lifehouse | St George Private Hospital and Medical Centre | 6-8 |
References
- Department of Health and Human Services. Optimal care pathway for people with oesophagogastric cancer. State Government of Victoria, Melbourne. 2015.
- Birkmeyer JD, et al. Hospital volume and surgical mortality in the United States. N Engl J Med, 2002. 346(15):1128-37.
- Killeen SD, et al. Provider volume and outcomes for oncological procedures. Br J Surg, 2005. 92(4):389-402.
- Birkmeyer JD, et al. Hospital volume and late survival after cancer surgery. Ann Surg, 2007. 245(5):777-83.
- Finks JF, et al. Trends in hospital volume and operative mortality for high-risk surgery. N Engl J Med, 2011. 364(22):2128-37.
- Wouters MW, et al. The volume-outcome relation in the surgical treatment of esophageal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer, 2012. 118(7):1754-63.
- Smith RC, et al. Survival, mortality and morbidity outcomes after oesophagogastric cancer surgery in New South Wales, 2001-2008. Med J Aust, 2014. 200(7):408-13.
- Stephens MR, et al. Multidisciplinary team management is associated with improved outcomes after surgery for esophageal cancer. Dis Esophagus, 2006. 19(3):164-71.
- Kersten C, et al. Does in-house availability of multidisciplinary teams increase survival in upper gastrointestinal cancer? World J Gastrointest Oncol, 2013. 5(3):60-7.
- Prades J, et al. Is it worth reorganising cancer services on the basis of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs)? A systematic review of the objectives and organisation of MDTs and their impact on patient outcomes. Health Policy, 2015. 119(4):464-74.
- Karam-Hage M, et al. Tobacco use and cessation for cancer survivors: an overview for clinicians. CA Cancer J Clin. 2014. 64(4):272-90.
- Warren GW, et al. The biological and clinical effects of smoking by patients with cancer and strategies to implement evidence-based tobacco cessation support. Lancet Oncol. 2014. 15(12):e568-80.
- Florou AN, et al. Clinical significance of smoking cessation in subjects with cancer: a 30-year review. Respir Care. 2014. 59(12):1924-36.
