Tuesday May 16, 2023 | VANCOUVER, BC
by Mary P Brooke, B.Sc. | Island Social Trends
It’s about ensuring that people have continued access to life-saving radiation treatment, but sending BC residents to the United States for radiation treatments is a stark sign of the stresses on BC’s health-care system.
Reducing BC Cancer services wait times now is about increasing capacity into the future.
Health Minister Adrian Dix made the announcement yesterday at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver.
Temporary referral while equipment updated & more staff recruited:
“Health care in B.C. has always been about one key commitment: getting patients the care they need, when they need it,” said Dix. “To ensure every effort is being made to get cancer patients the treatment they need, we are temporarily referring patients to clinics across the border. This immediate action will support patients while we expand cancer services and hire more cancer care staff throughout the province.”
To support B.C.’s cancer plan and reduce wait times for radiation treatment, starting May 29, 2023, BC Cancer is temporarily offering eligible patients radiation treatment at one of two clinics in Bellingham, Wash. This will launch a temporary initiative outside the province that could support as many as 50 additional radiation patients each week.
“Timely radiation therapy treatment is critical for people with cancer, both for their survival and overall quality of life,” said Dr. Kim Chi, chief medical officer, BC Cancer. “Through this temporary initiative, we can take urgent action to improve outcomes, not only for those who are able to travel but also for people with cancer receiving care at our regional centres. The initiative increases our overall capacity to deliver vital radiation therapy for every British Columbian who needs it.”
In 2021, more than 30,000 people in B.C. were newly diagnosed with cancer.
New equipment:
In July 2019, the Province announced the third publicly funded PET/CT scanner in B.C. and the first located in Victoria and outside of the Lower Mainland.
In August 2020, the Province announced the fourth publicly funded PET/CT scanner in B.C.
Now the linear accelerators are being replaced, which is detailed and time-consuming work.
For two years:
Over the next two years, approximately 4,800 patients will benefit from this temporary program, representing approximately 2,400 patients per year. This would provide approximately 24,000 sessions of radiation treatment over the course of the program, or 12,000 session per year, says BC Health.
During the same time, B.C. is expecting to see approximately 1,000 new patients requiring radiation treatment. By adding capacity for an estimated 4,800 more patients over the next two years, B.C. is taking action to ensure more people receive their radiation treatment by clinical benchmark. These efforts will help B.C. meet growing demand while creating redundancy to replace equipment and position the province to keep up with demand into the future.
The new service arrangement comes into effect starting May 29, 2023. First in line will be patients for breast and prostate cancer, as outlined by Minister Dix.
All costs covered, passport required:
Through BC Cancer and the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), eligible patients will have all costs related to their treatment covered, including travel, meals and accommodation. As a temporary addition to the public health-care system, all costs for medical services, testing and medication related to the patient’s radiation treatment, prescription medications and laboratory testing will be covered by the Province.
“We are incredibly grateful to BC Cancer physicians and staff for their unwavering commitment to patient care in the midst of increased patient loads,” said Dr. David Byres, president and CEO, Provincial Health Services Authority. “This temporary measure will support those facing cancer while we continue our efforts to recruit specialized clinical and support staff, upgrade our infrastructure, and work with our health authority partners to deliver on the priorities in B.C.’s 10-year cancer action plan.”
A BC Cancer support team will help patients by arranging appointments, co-ordinating travel plans and greeting them when they return to their regional BC Cancer centre.
Costs related to travel will be covered including flights, trains, ferry, car rental or use of personal vehicle, accommodation, ambulance, lab and medical imaging, prescription drugs and supportive care medications, Patient immobilization devices , dietetic services, etc.
Care partner included:
“Being diagnosed with cancer can be overwhelming. We appreciate that travelling for treatment can cause added stress at a difficult time, both for people with cancer and those who care for them.” said Heather Findlay, chief operating officer, BC Cancer. “Our care teams are committed to support patients through every stage of their cancer journey and will ensure their travel is as smooth as possible by supporting with planning and logistics for two people, allowing our patients to bring a loved one with them.”
Private health care aspect:
The cross-border program tips the politics of BC health-care into some tricky territory. BC will be paying private health-care providers in the USA to provide services to British Columbians.
While some point out that the BC government staunchly upholds the public health-care system while in this case paying private (profit-oriented) health-care services (and in another country, no less), it should be noted that the patients themselves are still getting full access to the health-care that their doctors prescribe for them. That’s public health-care still working — at least on the delivery side of things.
Research, technology and innovation:
The Province will continue expanding cancer care through B.C.’s Cancer Care Action Plan to better prevent, detect and treat cancers today, and to meet growing future demand.
Through investments in research, technology and innovation, the Province is strengthening cancer care in B.C. and delivering more innovative, evidence-based care for people when and where they need it.
The stresses of population increases and the higher number of aging people in the population are part of the strain on the health-care system in BC, said Dix.
More cancer centres:
To increase capacity and keep up with demand into the future, the Province is adding more cancer centres across B.C. (work is underway to open new cancer centres in Burnaby and Surrey, with more on the way), upgrading existing hospital space through renovation and expansion, including the addition of net new diagnostic imaging equipment, and hiring new physicians and clinical support staff through B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy.
===== GOVERNMENT LINKS:
More about B.C.’s cancer plan
More about B.C.’s health human resource plan