NDP, Saskatoon mom call on government to address long biopsy wait times

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?”

Latest posts

SASK. PARTY MLA KEVIN WEEDMARK HOPSCOTCHED SASKATCHEWAN BY PRIVATE JET — WHO PAID?

Deleted Staff Video Shows Sask. Party’s Extravagant, Out-of-Touch ‘Day in the Life’
REGINA — Carla Beck’s Saskatchewan NDP is demanding answers after a Sask. Party MLA spent the day hopscotching Saskatchewan aboard a private jet — an extravagant “day in the life” documented by his own staff person in a since-deleted video.

CARLA BECK'S TEAM ONCE AGAIN CALLS ON SCOTT MOE TO GET BACK TO WORK AS TRUMP TRADE WAR ESCALATES

Sask. Party Continues To Play Political Games While Trump's Tariffs Damage Saskatchewan Industry and Jobs in Moose Jaw
MOOSE JAW – Carla Beck's team is calling on Scott Moe yet again to cancel his tee times, stop working on his summertime tan and get back to work addressing the serious harm being caused to hardworking Saskatchewan people amid the escalating trade war with Donald Trump.

CARLA BECK'S TEAM STANDS WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TO RAISE ALARMS ON SKY-HIGH TUITION COSTS IN SASKATCHEWAN

Undergraduate Students In Saskatchewan Are Paying The Second-Highest Tuition Canada
REGINA – Today, as a new post-secondary school year begins, Carla Beck's team is standing alongside students to call out the extreme cost of tuition in Saskatchewan after 20 years of this Sask. Party mismanagement and failure to fund post-secondary.

SCOTT MOE HIDES STATE OF SCHOOLS FROM PRINCE ALBERT FAMILIES

Carla Beck’s Team Calls On Local MLAs To Stand Up To Premier, Education Minister & Demand Answers

PRINCE ALBERT— As Scott Moe and his Education Minister stand behind a decision to completely withhold information on the state of Saskatchewan schools, Carla Beck’s team is calling out Sask. Party MLAs in Prince Albert to demand transparency for the families they were elected to represent.

NDP Caucus Office