The Christie NHS Foundation Trust and The Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre (Peter Mac) in Melbourne, Australia, have celebrated the signing of a joint partnership agreement. This agreement provides a framework for the shared ambition to work in partnership to improve cancer outcomes globally for all. It will foster cooperation in education and training, research and clinical service programme, which includes opportunities for staff development.
The partnership agreement was signed by the Chief Executives of The Christie and Peter Mac, Roger Spencer and Professor Jason Payne and was celebrated this week during the visit by Associate Professor, Andy Dimech, Peter Mac’s Chief Nursing Officer, along with Tim Dillon, Agent-General to the UK who represents the State Government of Victoria.
Peter Mac is Australia’s only public hospital solely dedicated to treating people with cancer and The Christie is a comprehensive cancer centre located just outside Manchester.
Chief Executive of The Christie, Roger Spencer, welcomed the agreement as an important step in building The Christie’s international strategic partnerships. He said:
“We are delighted to be entering into a partnership agreement with Australia’s Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. We are two world leading cancer centres with a shared commitment to providing the best possible care for our patients and improving cancer outcomes globally. This closer relationship will enhance the exchange of ideas and best practice, and the sharing of innovation and research, and is hugely important to us as an organisation”.
Peter Mac Chief Executive, Professor Jason Payne, said:
“Peter Mac is actively developing strong partnerships with world-leaders in cancer care and research – like The Christie. There’s so much we can learn from each other, and we have already benefitted from The Christie’s expertise in radiation therapy and their leadership in proton beam therapy through supported fellowships. People with cancer need our help, and we will do even better by sharing insights, knowledge and expertise.”
As a first step plans are already underway to establish and recruit a dedicated radiation oncology fellowship across The Christie and Peter Mac. Candidates will spend one year in Manchester and one year in Melbourne as part of this prestigious training offering
