Care Plus offers an extra layer of support in addition to your usual care from your cancer care team. Care Plus focuses on supporting the person with cancer as well as their family and friends. Multidisciplinary teams work together to meet your physical, psychological, social, spiritual and cultural needs. It also provides advice, support and education to family and friends

Yes. You are encouraged to bring your family, friends or personal carer(s) to your Care Plus appointments. There is support and information offered to them too.

You can be seen by the Care Plus team in the hospital as an outpatient. People receiving care at the Royal Melbourne and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre see the Care Plus team based at the Parkville Integrated Supportive Care clinic.

Telehealth is also available if that suits your circumstances, particularly if you live in rural or regional areas of Victoria.

All Care Plus appointments will be covered by Medicare. As needed, and in discussion with you, the Care Plus team may link you to services that you receive at home or outside of a hospital, which may cost money. Some examples of things that might cost extra are:

• hiring specialised equipment for use at home

• paying for medicines

• paying respite services that charge a fee

• paying the fee of a private health professional, such as a psychologist, that isn’t fully covered by Medicare

• paying for complementary therapies, such as massage therapy and acupuncture.

For all enquiries, please click on the relevant hospital email link below:

• St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne

• Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

• The Royal Melbourne Hospital

Care Plus is offered through St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Each hospital provides this extra layer of care for different cancer types alongside usual treatments. Some cancer types include High Grade Glioma, Multiple Myeloma, Pancreatic, Oesophageal and Upper GI cancers, Acute Myeloid Leukaemia, Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Patients living in regional Victoria may be supported through telehealth or in some areas, through local care teams. You can discuss a referral with your cancer care team or by contacting the email addresses provided on the contact page.