News

MercyAscot and Urology Institute specialists from Auckland-based OneSixOne Medical Group, have launched The Prostate Clinic – a comprehensive and streamlined diagnostic and treatment service for patients with prostate cancer symptoms.

The clinic offers a fast-tracked diagnostic and treatment pathway by reducing unnecessary steps wherever possible. Patients concerned about prostate cancer will receive a diagnosis and treatment plan within four weeks of their referral to the Prostate Clinic, compared to the current average of up to four months in the public system.

Southern Cross Health Insurance is funding a two-year pilot, to provide eligible members with access to fully-funded specialist diagnostic and treatment support services through The Prostate Clinic.

Dr Andrew Brant, Chief Medical Officer for MercyAscot says “each year in Aotearoa, approximately 4,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer . The time of uncertainty from referral to diagnosis to treatment can be difficult for patients.

“By streamlining diagnosis and providing dedicated nurse specialist support before, during and after their treatment, we aim to improve outcomes and experiences for patients with prostate cancer symptoms or a prostate cancer diagnosis.”

The Prostate Clinic is suitable for patients who have not previously had a diagnosis of prostate cancer and have two out of three of the following eligibility criteria:

Family history of prostate cancer

Elevated PSA – repeated after six weeks before GP referral

Abnormal digital rectal exam (DRE)

Eligible patients nationwide can be referred to the clinic by their GP.

Simon van Rij, Urology Institute surgeon says “expert care goes beyond just one surgeon—it requires a dedicated team which men should expect and ask for when investigating if they have prostate cancer.

“From nurses and physiotherapists to dedicated administrators, every professional plays a crucial role in guiding our patients through diagnosis and treatment. Our prostate cancer pathway offers patients comprehensive, compassionate, and expert care at every step. Bringing all these elements together is what truly makes a difference in outcomes and patient wellbeing.”

Dr Stephen Child, Chief Medical Officer for Southern Cross Health Insurance said that the friendly society’s goal is to find innovative ways to deliver better value to its collective membership.

“As New Zealand’s largest health insurer, Southern Cross is dedicated to empowering our members to live well for longer, and this includes supporting innovations to build a sustainable, high-quality health system both now and for the future.

“Our goal is clear - deliver the same great health outcomes at a lower cost or even better outcomes for a similar cost. Collaborating with clinicians to remove non-value-adding steps is one way of achieving this. Our pilot programmes offer valuable insights on treatment options, service bundling, and which outcomes matter most to our members.”

Dr Child adds: “In our experience, finding the right partners is critical to help high-quality, sustainable care to emerge. Rising healthcare costs directly impact our member premiums, and we are committed to providing our members access to high value healthcare for their premiums.

“Our collaboration with MercyAscot and OneSixOne Medical Group demonstrates our commitment to providing access to fast, efficient healthcare. We continue to uphold the Southern Cross membership advantage for our more than 955,000 members.”