A medical oncologist based in Brandon is leaving the role in November, saying his repeated calls for support have been ignored by the province.
Dr. Brady Anderson has been practising out of the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre in Brandon for four years. His last day as a medical oncologist will be Nov. 13, at which point he will begin working as a hospitalist at the Brandon Regional Health Centre.
Anderson told CBC News on Friday it “has been quite devastating” to have to step away from oncology.
“This was my dream job since I was an early medical student,” he said.
“I had several family members suffering from cancer, and I wanted to be able to come back and contribute to the region with something that was really needed. That was my biggest motivation.”
On call by default
Anderson has been the sole medical oncologist outside of Winnipeg, he said. He said the workload, and a lack of support from both the province and CancerCare Manitoba, have led to his burnout.
The CancerCare site in Brandon continues to have two family doctors trained in oncology and three radiation oncologists. But when it comes to making major decisions for patients, diagnosis and major changes to treatment plans, the responsibility falls on Anderson, he said.
This has led to him being perpetually on call by default, he said.
“I’m effectively being forced into a significant amount of unpaid overtime, with no promise or guarantee that it will be fixed or compensated in the future,” Anderson said.
Despite promises of support in the form of nurse practitioners, clinical assistants or physician assistants, nothing ever came to fruition, he said.
“What I’ve maintained the entirety of the last two years … is that if the workload is necessary, then I’m willing to — at least until they recruit somebody else — provide it, but knowing that it’s going to be compensated. If compensation can’t be committed to, then something else at least needs to be taken off my plate,” Anderson said.
“It’s acknowledged, but the overwhelming response has been, ‘Yeah, we really should do something about it.’ But nothing ever happens.”
At any given time, Anderson said he actively oversees the treatments and follow-ups of several hundred patients. He said his biggest concern is that there will be a care gap in the Westman area.
“That concern is what led me to stay in the position, despite many years of this frustration, for as long as I have,” Anderson said.
Doctors Manitoba spokesperson Keir Johnson said in an email to CBC News that there are 23 medical oncologists listed as working in Manitoba, with only one in Brandon and the rest in Winnipeg.
“According to our analysis of national data, Manitoba has about 20 per cent fewer medical oncologists per capita than the Canadian average,” Johnson wrote.
A spokesperson for the provincial government said another medical oncologist started approximately a month ago and will carry on Anderson’s workload when he leaves.
Brandon West MLA Wayne Balcaen says Anderson’s departure will ‘impact thousands of people whose lives have been forever changed’ because of cancer. (Jaison Empson/CBC)
Anderson, however, said he has been given “next to no information on the future coverage plans despite requesting repeatedly to be involved in it to make sure patients do not get lost.”
“I have grave concerns about the sustainability of this, as presumably they will be tasked with virtually stepping into the same unsustainable workload,” Anderson said.
Brandon West MLA Wayne Balcaen brought up Anderson’s departure during Thursday’s question period, saying it will “impact thousands of people whose lives have been forever changed” because of cancer.
“This is not just a Brandon problem, it’s a Westman problem,” Balcaen said, noting he’s heard from constituents from across western Manitoba concerned with Anderson’s departure.
“For many people, the only way to ensure they don’t die, or to prolong their life, is to get timely treatment by a medically trained cancer doctor such as Dr. Anderson.”
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara at the Manitoba Legislature in March. The health minister says the province has been working with Prairie Mountain Health to recruit and retain more professionals. (Bryce Hoye/CBC)
Provincial Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said during question period that the government has been working with Prairie Mountain Health to recruit and retain more professionals in the region.
“We recognize the challenges with staffing, and we’re going to keep doing the work to make sure more residents of Prairie Mountain Health have access to the cancer care services they need.”
Twylla Krueger, director of communications for CancerCare Manitoba, said in a written statement that Prairie Mountain Health and CancerCare are “committed to ensuring continuity of care for patients” in the Westman region.
“Following Dr. Anderson’s departure, another medical oncologist will be assigned to provide care for patients at the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre,” Krueger said.
“Patients will continue to receive care at their preferred CancerCare Manitoba location. Our clinical teams will work directly with patients to co-ordinate appointments and ensure a smooth transition, with no interruption to their ongoing care.”
Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett reiterated that Westman shouldn’t see any disruption.
“We realized [Brandon] is the medical hub for the region, and so we do need to make sure that we can have specialists here,” he said.
“Recruitment is one thing, and retention is the other. It’s the community that makes retention easier.”
Anderson, who was born and raised in Westman, said he is glad to remain in Brandon and provide the services he can.
“He is an asset, in that he’s working as a hospitalist, and that helps. We need that as well,” the mayor said.
