Concerns at CancerCare Manitoba need full review

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This article was published 24/12/2024 (306 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Allegations of physician burnout, a toxic work environment and a lack of trust in leadership at CancerCare Manitoba has raised serious concerns about the sustainability of patient care at the provincial agency.

A 14-page internal review conducted by Doctors Manitoba, which became public last week, found widespread frustration among doctors about heavy workloads, excessive overtime, high turnover rates and allegations that senior executives are turning a blind eye to the problems there.

Like most allegations around workplace strife, there are usually two or more sides to the story.

CancerCare board chair Jeoff Chipman has disputed some of the allegations in the report, saying while there are some problems, they are no worse than in other health care sectors, where doctor shortages and burnout are commonplace.

Nurses and allied workers, by contrast, echo concerns found in the report, saying they too have complained to senior management about unsustainable workloads and burnout, but have been ignored.

Yet some doctors have come out in support of CancerCare, saying allegations of a toxic workplace are exaggerated and public criticism of the provincial agency could hurt doctor recruitment.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said government is taking the allegations seriously and has begun responding to them, although it’s unclear what the province has done specifically.

Not surprisingly, Asagwara blamed the previous Progressive Conservative government for the strife at CancerCare, even though the NDP government has been in office for well over a year.

Clearly something is amiss at CancerCare Manitoba.

It’s difficult to know how bad it truly is or how much worse it is compared to other health facilities, like St. Boniface Hospital or Grace Hospital, where doctors, nurses and allied workers are run off their feet and where record emergency room wait times are affecting patient care.

Nevertheless, the allegations are serious and require further investigation by the province. A full, independent review should be launched by the health minister’s office to get to the bottom of the concerns raised.

That includes the more serious “unspecified” allegations that were uncovered which have been forwarded to the provincial ombudsman’s office.

The problem with much of this report is the allegations are mostly vague and lacking in detail. Heavy workloads and excessive overtime exist throughout most of the health-care system, due in large part to staff recruitment and retention challenges.

There are shortages of doctors, nurses and allied health workers across the country that are affecting patient care.

That doesn’t make it acceptable, but it should be put into context.

Still, allegations of a toxic workplace, including senior executives who refuse to listen to concerns of front-line staff, should not be taken lightly. If they are legitimate grievances and the working environment at CancerCare is indeed deteriorating, that could affect patient care. Wait times for radiation therapy are already creeping up at the provincial agency.

Patient care should be at the forefront of a provincial review of CancerCare. There are serious allegations that chronic understaffing and burnout may be affecting the quality of care cancer patients are receiving, or may receive in the future.

The province should not wait for that to happen. The health minister should take immediate steps to address concerns raised and order an independent review to gather more detailed information.

The NDP can no longer blame the previous government for problems in heath care. It has been in office for 14 months and has had ample time to make improvements.

Manitobans suffering from cancer cannot afford to see this provincial agency deteriorate. Patients deserve better.