The Tory government came under fire from health critics Tuesday who charged that poor planning has left the province’s two major cancer treatment centres short-staffed and patients facing lengthier wait times for treatment.
Alberta Liberal health critic Kevin Taft contended that the situation is fallout from the Alberta government’s decision to “reduce the training of physicians and to take the focus away from cancer treatment.
“I can’t imagine the anguish that people are going through when they’ve been given a diagnosis of a very advanced cancer, then are told they can’t get treatment for it. It’s just unacceptable,” Taft said.
In Calgary, a shortage of oncologists while the province searched for retirement and maternity leaves replacements put further pressure on the overcrowded Tom Baker Cancer Centre, forcing treatment delays for advanced cancer patients. The Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, meanwhile, which is also facing a staffing crunch, had to turn away some patients needing chemotherapy treatments.
On Tuesday, Taft argued that the province should reinstate the Alberta Cancer Board, which was brought under the umbrella of the new, provincewide Alberta Health Services board last year.
“The Alberta Cancer Board was one of the most respected of its types in the country,” Taft said.
“When it was disbanded under (former health minister) Ron Liepert, we lost our focus as a province on cancer services. It became more difficult to recruit staff , there was uncertainty, we lost staff , and we’re paying a price now.”
- Canadian man dies during Texas Ironman event. His widow wants answers as to why
- ‘Sciatica was gone’: hospital performs robot-assisted spinal surgery in Canadian first
- Canadians more likely to eat food past best-before date. What are the risks?
- Treatment from female doctors leads to lower death rates, study finds
Under AHS, cancer services fall into several portfolios, including: cancer care, which is focused around diagnosis and treatment; population and public health, which is responsible for prevention, screening and surveillance; and integrated seniors health, which looks at palliative and end of life care.
Earlier this week, Health Minister Gene Zwozdesky argued that oncologists are highly sought-after across North America and the province is doing its best to recruit qualified doctors. He has promised to put renewed focus on attracting more of the cancer specialists to Alberta.
An Alberta Health Services spokesman noted that the Lethbridge Cancer Centre is expected to open in June, and work on additional sites is being developed as part of a “cancer corridor” to offer Albertans services closer to home.
“AHS is working to ensure that Albertans are able to access radiation and chemotherapy treatments closer to home, redistributing services and alleviating pressures in Calgary and Edmonton centres,” said Don Stewart in an e-mail.
On Tuesday, Wildrose Alliance MLA Heather Forsyth called the current cancer treatment delays “unacceptable.”
“We know that cancer is on the rise, we know people have to be treated for cancer,” she said.
Cancer patients who are dying of the disease are being sent a dark message that they can’t get the help and relief they need from the pain, Forsyth added.
“Albertans deserve to be treated with compassion.”
jkomarnicki@theherald.canwest.com
Comments