CancerCare issues, wait times hurting Manitoba patients, doctor survey says

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This article was published 17/12/2024 (264 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CancerCare Manitoba patients are facing longer wait times, while an “escalating and unsustainable” workload for the facility’s doctors poses serious risk to patient care and outcomes, a survey of physicians revealed.

A workplace review by Doctors Manitoba found CancerCare clinics don’t have enough staff to keep pace with a “significant number” of new patients.

“Consequently, physicians reported that wait times are on the rise, especially for seeing new cancer patients, and this is causing moral distress among physicians,” said the review, which was obtained by the Free Press Tuesday.

“Escalating and unsustainable physician workload concerns is an immediate issue that should be prioritized for physician feedback given the serious risk to physician burnout and to patient care and outcomes.”–Doctors Manitoba report

The median wait time for radiation therapy in Manitoba was 15 days as of September — up from 13 in 2021 but down from 17 in 2023 — based on a combination of data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information and Manitoba Health, the review found.

The national average was 12 days as of 2023.

Some doctors who were surveyed described a “toxic and unsupportive” work environment at CancerCare, the Doctors Manitoba report said.

A universal theme among the doctors who were surveyed was a “deep commitment and sense of pride” for the high quality of care provided to patient, the report said.

However, physicians were concerned issues within CancerCare could “weaken or erode” their ability to meet the standard of care Manitobans expect and deserve.

“Escalating and unsustainable physician workload concerns is an immediate issue that should be prioritized for physician feedback given the serious risk to physician burnout and to patient care and outcomes,” said the report, which is based on feedback from 57 doctors.

Manitoba Nurses Union president Darlene Jackson said she has heard from patients or families who are concerned about wait times following a cancer diagnosis.

Understaffing is contributing to longer waits for oncology appointments, she said.

“It’s not because physicians and nurses aren’t trying to move it along,” Jackson said.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara told the Free Press that CancerCare has patients “at the heart of decision-making,” and will continue to do so.

“Manitobans should rest assured that this is an organization that will continue to provide high-quality care, and will continue to move into a direction that enhances, expands and improves services for Manitobans in every corner of this province,” Asagwara said.

The minister said the NDP government is taking steps to add staff and beds at CancerCare, and to try to improve the culture across Manitoba’s health-care system.

Progressive Conservative health critic Kathleen Cook said the concerns reported by CancerCare physicians are “very troubling.”

“It’s inevitable that that would have an impact on patient care,” she said in response to excessive workloads, burnout and other issues cited by physicians.

The Roblin MLA called on Asagwara to publicly explain how they plan to address the issues and the impacts on patient care.

“The minister should take this very, very seriously,” Cook said.

Asagwara blamed previous Tory governments for the workplace issues raised by physicians. Cook said Asagwara has a tendency to cast blame and “point fingers backwards” instead of taking responsibility for present issues or concerns.

Katharina Kovacs Burns, Alberta-based chair of the Patients for Patient Safety Canada advocacy group, said the concerns raised by CancerCare physicians reflect national trends of high stress levels, burnout and turnover among health-care workers.

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“I don’t think care providers get the supports they need,” she said.

Issues such as staff shortages, moral distress or burnout can have a negative impact on patient care and safety, Kovacs Burns said.

“There’s a direct correlation, for sure.”

Staff shortages can result in longer waits, burnout can contribute to safety incidents, and mistakes are possible or communication may not be as good or as effective when people are under stress, she said.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca

Chris Kitching
Reporter

Chris Kitching is a general assignment reporter at the Free Press. He began his newspaper career in 2001, with stops in Winnipeg, Toronto and London, England, along the way. After returning to Winnipeg, he joined the Free Press in 2021, and now covers a little bit of everything for the newspaper. Read more about Chris.

Every piece of reporting Chris produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.