Cancer Care Forum Delivers Strong Message

By 250 News

Forum  attendees take their seat at the Coast Inn of the North

The second of two  Prince George public consultation meetings on Northern Cancer Care  welcomed about 150 people.  Those in attendance included civic leaders, cancer patients,  families of cancer victims,  health care providers and palliative care providers. 

Co Chair, Jeff Burghardt, the Chair of the Northern Health Board, says last evening's session was similar and the messages delivered were heartfelt and  commanding.  "Many who attended last night were family and friends of  cancer victims" said Burghardt, "They talked about the difficulty of separation from family and support, of long  tiring hours to travel to facilities where they could get treatment."  Burghardt says they presented a very strong show of support for a fully integrated Cancer Center in Prince George.

The Co-Chair admits the location of such a facility may not be popular in all  areas that are under the Northern Health umbrella.  "There is an issue, of wondering if we can attract people from all over the Northern Health region to Prince George  to use a new facility." Burghardt knows people on the north coast, have established referral patterns that see them travelling north south "And there are worries about travelling east-west on the roads in winter".
  
(Co-chairs, Jeff Burghardt and Charles Jago prepare to start the second of two  consultation forums in Prince George)

He says there's also  the concern patients may rather travel by air to an established clinic in the lower mainland, than  be sent to a new centre in Prince George.   "That is why we must ensure  such a facility in Prince George is first rate." says Burghardt who recognizes any new treatment center would have to see 400 to 450 patients a year in order to be viable.

The next session is set for  March 16th  in Hazelton at 1:00 p.m. at the United Church Health Services Family Centre.  The full schedule is available at www.northerncancercare.ca  .  If  people are not able to attend a session in person, they are encouraged to submit their thoughts on a form available on the web site.  

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