Northern Regional Sarcoma Service | Auckland | Te Toka Tumai

Auckland City Hospital

Contact Details

Phone 0800 543 767
Email [email protected]

Sarcoma Outpatient Clinics
Outpatient Enquiries: GCC Reception D (Orthopaedic Team) & Reception E (General Surgery)
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0800 543 767

Street Address

2 Park Road
Grafton
Auckland 1023

Postal Address

Private Bag 92 024
Auckland Mail Centre
Auckland 1142

Description

What is Sarcoma?
Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that develops from bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective tissues. It can occur in adults and children and may present in the limbs, trunk, or other parts of the body.

The Northern Regional Sarcoma Service provides comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for patients with suspected or confirmed sarcoma across the entirety of the North Island of New Zealand. The service covers the full Te Whatu Ora Northern Region — extending from Cape Reinga in the far north to Wellington in the south — encompassing Northland, Auckland, Waitematā, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, and Mid Central.



Based at Auckland City Hospital (Te Toka Tumai Auckland), the Northern Regional Sarcoma Service operates multidisciplinary clinics with input from orthopaedic surgeons, general surgeons, plastic surgeons, oncologists, pathologists, radiologists, and specialist nurses. All patients are reviewed by the Northern Regional Sarcoma Multidisciplinary Meeting (MDM) to ensure coordinated, evidence-based care, in line with the Oncology Clinical Care Programme (OCCP) Sarcoma Tumour Standards (Te Aho o Te Kahu, Cancer Control Agency, 2025).


Types of Sarcoma Treated:

  • Bone Sarcomas (e.g., osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma)
  • Soft Tissue Sarcomas (e.g., liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma)
  • Rare and complex sarcoma types in both adults and children


Coming to your Appointment:

  • Arrive 15–30 minutes early to allow time for check-in and paperwork.

  • Parking is limited and often busy, so allow extra time for parking or consider public transport.

  • The Neurosurgery outpatient clinic is located on Greenlane Hospital, — follow the signs or ask staff for directions.

Emergency Notification

For urgent or emergency Sarcoma care, the on-call team is available 24/7.

Staff

Sarcoma Nurse Specialists:

  • Vanessa Hurley - 021 872 437
  • Claire Paul - 021 805 380
  • Emma Beard - 021 397 855


AYA Nurse Specialist:

  • Olivia Grant (covering Zoe Turner) - 021 308 261

Referral Expectations

  • All suspected sarcoma cases must be referred to the MDM first.
  • Referrals are initially reviewed by a Consultant, and the Sarcoma Coordinator schedules them for discussion at the next available MDM.
  • Patients should not be referred directly for a First Specialist Appointment (FSA) or biopsy prior to MDM discussion.
 
Reference:
Oncology Clinical Care Programme (OCCP). Sarcoma Tumour Standards. Te Aho o Te Kahu – Cancer Control Agency, 2025. Available at: Te Aho o Te Kahu OCCP Guidelines

How to Refer:
  • Email:
  • Phone: 021 392 219
  • Include:
    • Clinical history and provisional diagnosis
    • Relevant imaging reports (CT/MRI)
    • Histopathology reports (if available)
    • Contact details of the referring clinician and GP

Best Practice Guidelines

The Northern Regional Sarcoma Service follows:
  • OCCP Sarcoma Tumour Standards – Te Aho o Te Kahu (Cancer Control Agency)
  • National Clinical Practice Guidelines for Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcomas – Te Whatu Ora

Hours

24 hour

Languages Spoken

Afrikaans, Albanian, Assyrian, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Turkish, Tongan, Thai, Tamil, Taiwanese, Swedish, Tagalog, Swahili (Kiswahili), Spanish, Solomons Pijin, Shona, Russian, Samoan, Romanian, Serbian, Tahitian, Tokelauan, Tuvaluan, Telugu, Shanghainese, Punjabi, Portuguese, Polish, Persian

Services Provided

Chemotherapy
Radiation therapy (radiotherapy) Ablative Therapies
Biopsy procedures
Post-Operative Support - Pre-hab
Ablative Therapies

Disability Assistance

A longer appointment time, Assistance to move around, Mobility parking space, More space to move around, NZ sign language interpreter, Support to make decisions, Wheelchair access, Wheelchair accessible toilet, Quiet, low sensory environment

Visiting Hours

Visiting hours for Ward 75, 77 at Auckland City Hospital are generally from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM daily. However, these times may vary depending on the specific needs of the ward. It's advisable to contact the ward directly or call Patient Enquiries at 09 375 4300 to confirm the exact visiting hours for Ward 75, 77. Please note that only two visitors per patient at a time are typically allowed, and overnight stays are generally not permitted unless arranged in advance with the charge nurse. If you or your visitors are feeling unwell, it's recommended to postpone your visit to protect patients and staff.

Parking

Parking is at a premium at Auckland Hospital, so please allow plenty of extra time to find parking before your outpatient clinic appointment.

Pharmacy

Grafton Pharmacy is a well-established community pharmacy located at 29 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023. They offer a comprehensive range of services, including prescription dispensing, over-the-counter medications, health supplements, and professional medical advice. The pharmacy is open seven days a week, including most public holidays, and provides multilingual support, including Mandarin/Chinese speakers.

Other

Further Reading & Resources:

https://www.healthpoint.co.nz/public/oncology/northern-regional-sarcoma-service-auckland/