B.C. radiation therapists weigh in province's plan to send patients to U.S. for treatment
With the B.C. government set to begin sending cancer patients south of the border for radiation treatment later this month, the province's radiation therapists are expressing alarm over a "deepening workforce crisis."
"The Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists-British Columbia (CAMRT-BC) and the hundreds of radiation therapists it represents are very concerned about current staffing shortages at BC Cancer," the professional association said in a statement Thursday.
"These conditions have been building over some time, with current shortages only the culmination of underinvestment in the field and workforce reaction to ever-building workload, stress and burnout."
Health Minister Adrian Dix announced the province's plan to send up to 50 patients per week to two facilities in Bellingham, Wash., on Monday.
Dix described the measure as both temporary and necessary to improve wait times for radiation treatment now while the province implements its plan to build capacity for the future.
The minister's announcement has been met with both relief that patients will have faster access to life-saving care and outrage that the province's health-care system isn't robust enough to deliver that care itself.
The CAMRT-BC describes the government's plan as an indication of "how extensive the crisis is," and warns that it will take "several years to solve."
“Several radiation therapists have expressed their concerns to me about this issue and how it will impact patient outcomes,” said Sarah Erdelyi, provincial manager of the CAMRT-BC, in the statement.
“Some of them have volunteered to temporarily relocate to assist centres experiencing the most difficulty filling vacancies or retaining staff. Right now, many are experiencing high levels of emotional exhaustion and feel as though there is no light at the end of the tunnel yet and no clear path to solve this crisis.”
Irving Gold, the CAMRT's national CEO, said radiation therapists in B.C. tried to raise the issue of burnout and worsening staff shortages to the provincial government "throughout 2022."
"We would welcome the opportunity to work with the government and other affected parties to develop long-term solutions that work for patients, professionals and the citizens of British Columbia, and so that the measure announced this week can be replaced with sustainable solutions for the long-term viability of cancer care in the province,” Gold said in the CAMRT-BC statement.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
Fewer medical students going into family medicine contributing to doctor shortage
As some family doctors are retiring and others are moving away from family medicine, there are fewer medical students to take their place.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bodies found by U.S. authorities searching for missing B.C. kayakers
United States authorities who have been searching for a pair of missing kayakers from British Columbia since the weekend have recovered two bodies in the nearby San Juan Islands of Washington state.
'It's discriminatory': Individuals refused entry to Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
Individuals being barred from entering Ontario’s legislature while wearing a keffiyeh say the garment is part of their cultural identity— and the only ones making it political are the politicians banning it.
Competition bureau finds 'substantial' anti-competitive effects with proposed Bunge-Viterra merger
The proposed merger of agricultural giants Viterra and Bunge is raising competition concerns from the federal government.
Douglas DC-4 plane with 2 people on board crashes into river outside Fairbanks, Alaska
A Douglas C-54 Skymaster airplane crashed into the Tanana River near Fairbanks on Tuesday, Alaska State Troopers said.