Image Credit: Flickr / Government of BC

By Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: NDP breaks its cancer care commitment to the people of Kamloops and area — again

Jul 1, 2021 | 10:30 AM

WHEN SOMEONE WE LOVE is fighting cancer, we want to do everything in our power to ease their pain and help them get better. It is certainly not an easy battle for anyone, and the added stress of having to travel for medical treatment only makes matters worse.

Sadly, that is the reality for many Kamloopsians who have to travel out of town to access services like radiation oncology — provided via five linear accelerators at the BC Cancer Centre in Kelowna — which is not currently available in Kamloops. Sadly, some cancer patients decide not to access this critical out-of-town radiation due to the travel-related cost and inconvenience of doing so, often worsening their personal health situations.

While we do have some cancer treatment services in Kamloops, we need to expand them to include radiation oncology — and offer them in a larger, more integrated one-stop cancer centre space.

With two of the linear accelerators used exclusively by patients from Kamloops and area — representing fully 40 per cent of the radiation oncology services available at the Kelowna Cancer Center — it only makes sense to add access to this treatment at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. The timing is even more advantageous considering the linear accelerators in Kelowna are nearing the end of their useful lives and will need to be replaced soon. Why not seize this opportunity to locate two of the new linear accelerators in Kamloops?

That’s exactly what the BC Liberals pledged to do during the 2020 election campaign. Soon after, John Horgan promised the NDP would build a new cancer centre in Kamloops — within four years — if the NDP was re-elected. However, after questioning Premier John Horgan and Health Minister Adrian Dix in their respective departmental budget estimates debate recently, we learned the NDP is actually looking at a 10-year window to fulfill this commitment, not a four-year one.

Looped In

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: December 12, 2024

6h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: North Shore BIA working hard to develop a 'happening place'

12h ago

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Moons

Dec 10, 2024

That’s not what they promised. And contrary to some commentary, it should concern all of us that this promise was broken — especially those elected to serve the people of Kamloops and the Thompson Regional Hospital District at all levels.

Perhaps city councillor and cancer survivor Dale Bass put it best when she said, “There are people today and tomorrow making the drive to Kelowna for radiation treatment… there will be people driving Monday to Friday or riding the bus when it comes back, for weeks, months and, apparently, years still, because they [NDP] are breaking their promise.” She’s right. This is the human cost of not expanding these radiation oncology services in Kamloops as soon as possible, and it’s downright cruel.

As we wait for the premier and his government to actually do something to improve local cancer care, it’s my view that enhanced cancer services should not be pushed into the discussion of Phase 3 of the redevelopment of Royal Inland Hospital. With Phase 2, the Patient Care Tower, nearing completion — timelines for Phase 3, let alone project scope, are unknown at this time.

Considering close to half a billion dollars has been invested in Phase 1 and 2 over the past ten years, what are the odds that Phase 3 is going to be green-lit by the province anytime soon? The better approach is to work on enhanced cancer treatment for Kamloops on its own track, and ensure the premier keeps his promise to deliver this in the next four years.

Do I have much faith in the NDP’s ability to address these challenges? Truthfully, I don’t. As we speak, the premier and his health minister can’t even agree on the scope and timeline of the cancer centre they promised to the people of Kamloops. Whatever they come up with in the meantime to fill the gaps is likely to be as hazy as their unfulfilled cancer centre plan.

That said, all Kamloopsians — and especially every elected official at all levels — should be demanding John Horgan keep his promise to build a new cancer centre, complete with radiation oncology services, here in Kamloops within four years. To let John Horgan off the hook by accepting anything less than what he promised is completely unacceptable.

——

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.