In 2016, B.C. had the best health and cancer care in Canada. Fast-forward eight years, and we have gone from first to worst.
I often hear COVID-19 blamed for medical personnel burnout, which is undoubtedly real around the globe.
Yet, if we zoom into B.C., we see a distinct lack of action from the NDP government to adapt and make the bold changes required in these challenging times. Instead of pivoting quickly to things that might ease the pain, like certifying international health-care professionals to practice in B.C., putting a shovel in the ground for the long-promised SFU medical school or even drastically increasing the student seats at UBC, this government continues to watch B.C. health care struggle on life support.
Wait times for cancer care have increased by double digits since 2017 for radiation, medical oncology and IV chemotherapy. In the last year alone, the government spent $16 million to send 800 patients to the U.S. for treatment. Yet, more than 24% of patients still aren’t getting the cancer treatment they need on time and funded.
B.C. radiologists have warned, “We fear for the tsunami of cancer cases that may be coming in B.C. because of delayed access to medical imaging.” It’s estimated there will be a 43% increase in cancer cases between now and 2035. Yet, some medical imaging wait times are four times longer than ever before with no sign of relief.
When Kevin Falcon was the Minister of Health, the wait time to start cancer treatment was only 8 days. We did it once; we can do it again.
In South Delta, people without a family doctor visit my office most frequently. This is especially concerning when access to medical records and specialists is required, but patients can’t get referred properly. People are turning to urgent care and emergency rooms instead, putting constraints on an already struggling system.
What happens when the ER can’t take patients? Where do you go? It’s unthinkable, and yet, so far this year in B.C., there have been over 200 emergency room closures. There were 42 in July alone. The Mission Memorial ER was closed this month, and Peace Arch ER was almost closed. We’ve all experienced long wait times, sure, but actual closures are a recent shift.
So, how do we get out of this?
Your thoughts and information matter to me. I use them to help devise the solutions we need. Patients, not ideology, should be at the centre of decision-making.
Our BC United Caucus is committed to a Patient Bill of Rights, which will reduce wait times and connect people with health care faster by publicly funding treatments at existing private clinics in B.C.
People who oppose private clinics should know that the province allows them for professional athletes, armed forces members, prisoners and WorkSafeBC clients. So why not you, too?
Something I’ve heard loud and clear is the need to rethink health authority boundaries to ensure timely, geographically closer services are offered for patients. Going to Chilliwack for services, especially for seniors, is not working for us.
The BC United Caucus is firm on hiring physician assistants to help ease the load, breaking ground on a larger medical school at SFU, reducing barriers for internationally trained doctors, and expanding pharmacists' scope for minor ailments. We need this now, not later.
And for the record, I voted no on Bill 36.
