'Glaring failure': 6 months in, critics slam B.C. plan to send cancer patients to U.S.
Leah Rowntree was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer in April, shortly before B.C. announced it would send patients like her to Bellingham, Wash., for radiation therapy.
Fast forward seven months, and on Tuesday, Rowntree had her first radiation treatment. But she chose to pay for it in Houston, Texas, not trusting the B.C. system to get her into treatment in the province—or in Bellingham—in time.
”We were uncertain that I would actually get on the schedule, regardless of when I needed it,” said Rowntree Tuesday from Houston.
The province announced in May it had arranged for British Columbians with breast and prostate cancers to get radiation treatment in Bellingham—pledging to pay the expenses for 50 patients per week—because wait times in B.C. were too long.
“They can’t even send the number of patients that they've contracted for,” said BC United leader Kevin Falcon during question period Tuesday.
Government documents obtained by a freedom of information request show that since the program began, 1,310 patients were referred for radiation in Bellingham, yet only 533 were actually eligible and agreeable to going to the United States for their radiation. Only 310 have started it, which calculates to an average of just under 12 patients per week.
“We’re now seeing that it was a glaring failure, resulting in less than a quarter of those it was supposed to help actually getting the treatment,” said Falcon, noting the province had contracted for the 50 patients per week.
Health Minister Adrian Dix focussed on those who have gone to Bellingham for treatment.
“Hundreds of people getting care is good news -- who have made the choice to go there, and who are supported in going there and are getting excellent care there,” said Dix Tuesday.
But lost faith in the system is widespread.
“The ER doctor himself said if you have the means to leave the country to get treatment, do so,” said Campbell River resident Kristin Logan on Tuesday.
She chose to heed that advice and pay for prompter treatment in Washington State to treat her Stage 4 ovarian cancer.
“Had I put my faith in the system that everything was working out how it was supposed to, I would not be here. I would have died,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6978604.1721996942!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Paris Olympics begin with unique opening ceremony along the Seine
The Paris Summer Olympics officially get underway today with a unique opening ceremony. Instead of marching into a stadium, representatives from more than 200 competing countries will enter the Games on boats along the River Seine.
BREAKING Canada Soccer head investigating 'systemic ethical shortcoming' amid spying scandal
Canada Soccer chief executive officer Kevin Blue said he was investigating a potential 'systemic ethical shortcoming' within the program but has not considered pulling the women's soccer team from the Paris Olympics due to a drone spying scandal.
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.
DEVELOPING Trudeau, with Australian and New Zealand PMs, pen letter renewing ceasefire calls for Gaza
Prime ministers of Canada, New Zealand and Australia released a letter renewing calls for an “urgent ceasefire” in Gaza on Friday morning.
Arson attacks paralyze French high-speed rail network hours before start of Olympics
Outgoing French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said that sabotage and arson that hit key parts of France's high speed rail network on the eve of the Olympics had 'a clear objective: blocking the high speed train network.'
Latest updates on wildfires in Jasper National Park: Rain, cooler weather limiting spread
Cool and wet weather is making a difference in Jasper National Park.
'He was just gone': Police ramp up search for vulnerable 3-year-old boy in Mississauga, Ont.
Police in Mississauga are conducting a full-scale search of the city’s biggest park for a non-verbal toddler who went missing Thursday evening. Sgt. Jennifer Trimble told reporters Friday morning that there has been no trace of three-year-old Zaid Abdullah since 6:20 p.m., when he was last seen with his parents in Erindale Park, near Dundas Street West and Mississauga Road.
Sunken treasure: Is the champagne nestled in a 19th-century shipwreck still fit for a toast?
A team of Polish divers has discovered the wreckage of an old sailing ship loaded “to the brim” with luxury goods including porcelain items and about 100 bottles of Champagne and mineral water about 58 meters (190 feet) deep off the Swedish coast.
opinion 'Deadpool and Wolverine' review: A love letter to a bygone era
'Deadpool and Wolverine' is a showcase for the bromance stylings of its stars, who pull out all the stops to cap Fox's Marvel movies.