Angela Daly is a Senior Social Worker at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, and she reveals how to navigate the complexities of the Australian healthcare system.
When someone is faced with a shock blood cancer diagnosis, everything changes in an instant. Suddenly, there’s new terminology and acronyms to learn, and a seemingly foreign new system to start navigating. All while trying to process an already overwhelming blood cancer diagnosis.
This can be incredibly stressful and confusing for the estimated 55 Australians who are diagnosed with blood cancer every day.
Social Workers are one of the many different healthcare professionals who operate within our healthcare system, and Senior Social Worker Angela Daly shares how they fit into the healthcare puzzle.
“Sometimes [it’s] to sit with patients and families and just listen to what they’ve heard. And help them process what’s happening, and what that means for them,” she says.
We try and put the person in the position of ‘boss’, where they feel comfortable to [make decisions]. Sometimes I think when the bomb hits, you don’t really feel the boss of anything and you’re not really sure what to ask.
Angela’s role begins the moment someone hears the words that will change their life forever: ‘you have blood cancer’. Her first priority? Understanding the person behind the diagnosis.
For Angela, it’s crucial to know more about the patient, so that she can tailor her support services to their specific situation, blood cancer and healthcare system knowledge levels, and personality.
One of the very first things that we discuss with patients and families once they have that initial bomb dropped is ‘who’s in their family?’, ‘what support do they have [around them]?’, ‘where do they live?’, and ‘how easy can they access our hospital?’.
Angela also talks about the difficulties faced by Australians heavily impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, and those who live in regional, rural, and remote areas.
More people are coming from very remote areas. The stress of knowing where to park and turning up on time for your treatment costs [can be difficult]. Cost-of-living and petrol is not easy these days, so that adds another stress for our patients.”
“[Many] don’t realise that this happens on top of everything else. It doesn’t happen in a vacuum.”
“So if you already have existing life stresses, as we often do, how are you going to get your children to school? How are you going to actually drive to treatment? How are you going to get to treatment? This happens on top of everything else and for a lot of people it’s also about income.
And for Australians who live in regional, rural, and remote areas, many are forced to relocate closer to hospital to access life-saving treatment. And that means having to find a place to stay – often for a prolonged period.
Australians living in regional, rural and remote communities are more likely to receive a delayed blood cancer diagnosis and miss out on the best possible care from healthcare professionals.
These communities make up 41% of blood cancer patients nationwide, placing a large portion of the Australian blood cancer community at an unfair disadvantage.
What it really means to navigate the healthcare system with blood cancer
Angela draws on years of experience in both regional and metropolitan settings and her own upbringing in remote Queensland to shape a compassionate and practical lens on navigating the healthcare system.
Following their diagnosis, patients are immediately thrust into a world of unfamiliar terms, medical jargon, and treatment options – which can be extremely overwhelming.
Everyone’s understanding of the system is different, so we talk about health literacy quite a lot. And that means your ability to understand and navigate our healthcare system.”
“Each system and service works differently, and from my perspective, having the knowledge that I do has been absolutely vital in navigating health services. So, if you don’t have that knowledge, it’s really challenging.
Angela’s advice? Seek help from the people around you. And if you don’t have others in your network who can help ease the burden, seek out assistance from a Social Worker or another healthcare professional who operates within the system. Because they’re there to help.
“[My role] would be helping people navigate the actual pathways and the systems within the healthcare system. Knowing their role and being able to advocate for their loved one, and that’s also a key role of social work too, is advocating for the patients.”
“It’s really helpful to have a non-medical perspective too. Because that helps us put [things] into plain language for patients and families.”
But as Angela explains, the public system can’t meet every need. Which is why the work of organisations such as the Leukaemia Foundation is crucial, as it helps take the pressure off both hospitals, and the healthcare workers within their walls.
We can’t be everything to everyone. And that’s where Leukaemia Foundation and other organisations can come in handy.
Navigating the healthcare system with blood cancer isn’t just about getting treatment. It’s about managing change, crisis, and complexity. And it’s never easy. But with the support of dedicated professionals like Angela and organisations like the Leukaemia Foundation, no one has to face it alone.
