Independent Review of Toowoomba Chemotherapy Protocol

Queensland Health ordered an independent review of a chemotherapy dosing protocol at Toowoomba Hospital on 22 June 2017 after learning that the hospital’s protocol for palliative care patients with small cell lung cancer had been at variance with the national protocol (eviQ).

The review, by two independent lung cancer specialists, focussed on 10 patients at the hospital who were given doses of Etoposide on days two and three of their treatment that were lower than those recommended under the eviQ protocol, which is used by all other Hospital and Health Services in Queensland.

The review found that the 10 patients affected received appropriate treatment and that the dosing protocol was consistent with the treatment regimen endorsed by the London Lung Cancer Group, a leading medical research body.

An initial audit on 28 May 2017 by the Statewide Cancer Network of 47 patients who had been subject to this protocol since 2009 found no evidence of any harm.

The independent review of Toowoomba chemotherapy protocol (PDF 119KB) is now available.

Last updated: 28 July 2017