Northern Health Waits for release of Cancer clinic report.

Northern health is patiently waiting for a report to be publicly released, outlining the future for Cancer care in the north. Plans which it is hoped will ultimately provide for a cancer clinic to be constructed in Prince George.

The Opinion 250 website has a story on the issue with a discussion with the head of Northern health Jeff Burghardt, who along with Dr. Charles Jago, co-authored the report delivered to the Premier last July.

It's a bit puzzling as to why it would take so long from the time a report is handed in for consideration, to when it is released to the public. Delays such as this, seem to be part of the problem with health care in British Columbia.

A delay of almost a year between a report and any indication of action, is too much and only goes to reaffirm the stereotype of a bloated bureaucracy that can't seem to move to action with any sense of urgency.

In the opinion 250 piece, Burghardt expresses a wish for the reports release soon and an opportunity to move the goal of cancer care in the north further along. Northern residents can only share in his wishes and perhaps a hope that somebody reads his report soon and lets us all know what the official verdict will be.

Head of Northern Health Wants to Know About PG Cancer Clinic Too
By 250 News
Sunday, March 25, 2007 03:53 AM

The head of the Northern Health Authority says he is hoping the report on a Cancer Clinic in Prince George is released soon.

In the meantime, Jeff Burghardt says Northern Health would like to see 8 or 9 locations where the doctors would see the cancer patients and then have them come to Prince George where perhaps as many as 5 or 6 oncologists would be available for the patient to see and receive radiation therapy or surgery.

In that way he said "As you build a confidence with the patient, they would want to be referred to a cancer clinic in this city. Rather than traveling to places such as Vancouver or Edmonton. When you build up a relationship with the doctor and the patient that will go a long way to where the treatment will be sought."

Burghardt knows it won't happen overnight "I don’t expect we will have a cancer clinic tomorrow, we have to get the people and the services needed for such a facility in place first."
Burghardt says there is work being done " We are moving towards having more oncologists here in this city in the immediate future, and that along with nurses trained in the field will make the construction of a clinic much easier."

Burghardt and Dr. Charles Jago co-authored the report which was delivered to the Premier last July.

Posted on Sunday, March 25, 2007 03:53 AM in News by 250 News