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Amid an escalating crisis that could put treatment for thousands of cervical and ovarian cancer patients across the country at risk, Newfoundland's Health Minister is rushing to compromise with the oncology team whose resignations last week sparked a national uproar.
Days after suggesting on a St. John's radio show that the province's three gynecologic oncology specialists could be inflating their problems to gain leverage in salary negotiations, Ross Wiseman has agreed to immediately address many of the terms they outlined as necessary to maintain patient safety and quality of care.
“We're working through the issues that have been identified and we're hoping they'll be resolved in the short term,” he said in an interview yesterday.
Newfoundland's three gynecologic oncologists, who provide essential treatment to women with cervical, ovarian and other cancers, tendered their resignations last week because they said conditions had deteriorated to the point where they might compromise care.
They said critically insufficient resources and working conditions, such as lack of office space, inability to adequately conduct research or clinical trials and substandard salaries forced them to leave their positions, effective Oct. 7, barring a compromise.
Last week Mr. Wiseman promised to airlift cancer patients out of the province for treatment if necessary, as well as recruit other oncologists, if the team leaves.
His proposed solution was met with harsh criticism from cancer experts across Canada. They said the entire country is facing a critical shortage of gynecologic oncologists, and that other cancer centres wouldn't be able to handle the increased demand.
In the wake of the uproar, Mr. Wiseman's office sent letters to the gynecologic oncology team this week pledging to immediately address some of the problems they outlined.
He said the province can, in the short term, provide advanced training for nurses who work with them and create new clinical associate positions to help balance their workload.
But it will take longer to address other issues, including their ability to conduct more research, as well as salary. Newfoundland's gynecologic oncologists earn about $250,000 a year, while their counterparts in other provinces earn $350,000 to $450,000.
Mr. Wiseman said he is not prepared to address the issue because physician remuneration is typically negotiated by the province and Newfoundland's medical association.
He said he has scheduled a meeting with the group's representative next week, and that he is optimistic the crisis will be resolved quickly.
The oncology team could not be reached for comment yesterday. But one of Canada's leading gynecologic oncologists said the province's unfolding crisis highlights serious problems that have been festering across the country.
“This isn't just a Newfoundland problem,” said Barry Rosen, head of gynecological oncology at the University of Toronto and past-president of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of Canada.
Dr. Rosen, who has done extensive research on workload and staffing issues in the field, estimates that close to 30 of 60 practising specialists will retire in the next 10 years. Canada will need 57 more gynecologic oncologists by 2016 – a goal that likely won't be possible without some sort of government intervention, he said.
