The large backlog of biopsies identified in yesterday’s report from the Provincial Auditor is making treatment more difficult and causing stress for patients. One such patient shared her experience today in the hope of galvanizing action, joining NDP Leader Ryan Meili and Health Critic Vicki Mowat to call on the government to make the necessary improvements to reduce biopsy wait times to a matter of days rather than weeks.
“Waiting on a biopsy result can be incredibly stressful, and a long wait can delay badly needed treatment,” Meili said. “Doctors have been raising this issue for years now, and this Auditor’s Report shows that more needs to be done to address the backlog and ensure prompt testing is available for those who need it.”
Hall, a school bus driver in Saskatoon, went to an appointment with her family doctor regarding health concerns back in mid-November. Her doctor noticed the signs of a growth in her lower abdomen and then immediately pushed for a referral appointment with a Gynecological Oncologist. She is scheduled to have surgery on Thursday but was told it will take two to three weeks for her to receive the biopsy results.
“For the next few weeks, I’ll be nervously waiting for my results,” Hall said. That’s nearly a month of not knowing. For patients like me, and others with less obvious physical symptoms, this is incredibly difficult.”
According to the Provincial Auditor, people in Saskatoon wait an average of 12.1 days for results, and in Regina, the wait is 18.7 days.
“Ralanda’s experience is something far too many Saskatchewan families have gone through,” said Mowat. “People are understandably frustrated. The Sask. Party government has known about this problem for years now, but the backlog persists. Why?”
Poor working conditions, favouritism, $300K travel nurse pay at issue
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition released a letter signed by 49 emergency room nurses in Saskatoon. The letter slams the Sask. Party government for failing to support Saskatchewan nurses and curb the province’s reliance on expensive out-of-province travel nurses.
REGINA - Today, Official Opposition Critic for First Nations and Métis Relations Betty Nippi-Albright hosted a Day of Action with Indigenous leaders from Nekaneet First Nation, Yellow Quill First Nation, Waterhen Lake First Nation, Onion Lake Cree Nation, Carry The Kettle First Nation, Key First Nation and the residential school support team from Yorkton Tribal Council. Together, they continue to draw attention to the Sask. Party government’s disregard for the Duty to Consult process.
MOOSE JAW - Today, the Official Opposition stood with Taylor Enns, president of the Moose Jaw Firefighters Association, and Brayden Dutchak, the son of a cancer survivor. Together, they called on the Sask. Party government to reopen Saskatchewan’s only hyperbaric chamber.
Records show former Sask. Party Finance Minister lobbied for Calgary surgery scheme on behalf of a major Sask. Party donor
REGINA - Today, the Official Opposition grilled the Premier and his Minister of Health after the Minister misled the public, claiming that he had not been lobbied by a former Sask. Party MLA when Saskatchewan's official lobbyist logs show the exact opposite.