Mission | Preamble | Objectives

Health care professionals in all disciplines who provide support for cancer patients and their families include components of psychosocial care within their scope of practice. The clinical experience of some health professionals and the formal training of those from social work, counselling, psychiatry and clinical psychology may mean their input currently provides the framework for existing psychosocial support. The Group aims to define the fundamental requirements and standards for practice in psychosocial oncology. The further development of this work by health professionals will establish psychosocial oncology is an integral part of cancer care in New Zealand.

The patient and family as defined by the patient are considered to for the basic unit of care in psychosocial oncology, and psychosocial care embraces the cancer patients’ continuum from diagnosis to after survival or death.

There is increased awareness of the load carried by patients and families who may be managing cancer as a chronic and/or life-threatening illness – living with cancer and its social consequences requires major adaptation from patients and families.

POIG supports provision of services that consider the total care of the cancer patient.