Full Report Needed for Cancer Clinic Stance

Friday, September 23, 2005 04:01 AM

It will be another couple of months before Northern Health has a full report from the Cancer Strategy Steering Committee.

The Committee has been looking at several factors as it prepares a case for the development of a cancer clinic that would be centered in Prince George, but would serve the residents of the north. They are adressing questions about the differences in cancer outcomes between the North and other regions, what action needs to be taken tobimprove survival rates of northern residents, and examinig different models of providing therapy and radiation treatments in small populations. One such model is the Cancer Clinic in Thunder Bay.

A report by Northern Health earlier this year, determined the caseload wouldn't be high enough to warrent having a clinic, however,Board Chairman Jeff Burghardt says the Board's official position won't be determined until the Steering Committee presents a report in November. Burghardt also noted it would be premature to talk about the establishment or timing of a clinic until all the groundwork has been completed.

When asked if the studies (including the one being conducted by the University) are redundant if the Province fails to come across with the money, Burghardt noted "There are many ways to fund different programs."
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Posted on Friday, September 23, 2005 04:01 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: gypsy on September 24 2005 10:03 AM

So the case load would not be high enough to warrant a clinic???
And 35 million spent to expand the Prince George Regional made it large enough to handle patient load???
Then why are they left to lay in emergency,NO beds available???
This clinic has been discussed for years, yet the groundwork has to be completed???
When does a job ever get finished in this part of the province???
Plans, committees, reports, groundwork, timing, meetings, funding-on and on we go- and we seem to be no further ahead, and the years pass.
I wonder if a lot of these people are simply filling a space and collecting a paycheque!!
They do not appear to be overly productive???
There are many ways to fund different programs!!
There are many ways to initiate different programs!!
There are many ways to plan different programs!!!
This is NO WAY TO COMPLETE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS!!!
Is there????

Posted by: tami on September 24 2005 11:47 PM

As much as it pains me, I tend to agree with gypsy on this one, (I know, gypsy, I'm shocked too!)

When do our concerns in the North become important enough to be heard? How many of our loved ones have to travel repeatedly to Vancouver or Kelowna for treatment before we finally take a stand and say ENOUGH?

I understand that the roadblock is we don't have enough of a case load in the North to support a cancer clinic. Tell that to the people of Whitehorse, Dawson Creek, Mackenzie, Chetwynd, Fort St. John, Prince George, Vanderhoof, Smithers, Terrace, Fort St. James, Quesnel, Burns Lake, McBride...

Somewhere along the line, it was decided that we in the North can just wait our turn. I'm tired of waiting, aren't you?

Isn't it time we took a stand and decided that we count as much as everyone else? Surely our health is as important as those who are lucky enough to live in larger centers...surely it's time for the people of the North to let our voices be heard. It's our turn, we've waited long enough.