Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me to appear before your committee.
I am the co-CEO of the New Brunswick Cancer Network, which is a division of the Department of Health in the Government of New Brunswick. I was also the head of the cancer centre in Saint John, New Brunswick, where I am still an active clinical radiation oncologist. Wearing both hats, as a civil servant overseeing the cancer system in New Brunswick, and as a practising clinical oncologist, I have a fairly unique perspective on the impact the radioactive isotope shortage has had.
My patients and their families are understandably very anxious when I first meet them. The cancer journey from diagnosis through investigations to treatment is not an easy one. It carries a huge emotional and physical burden. As their oncologist, my task is to help them through their journey and ease their burden as best I can.
The news of a shortage of radioactive isotopes causing possible delays in completing staging investigations, formulating treatment plans, and commencing treatment has undoubtedly added to this anxiety and emotional stress. However, at least in the New Brunswick situation, thanks to the dedication and efforts of the staff in nuclear medicine departments who have worked many long hours and weekends, the impact on patients has been kept to a minimum.
While there has been inconvenience to patients at times, the staff have done well to manage the shortage and avoid any significant delays in commencing treatment. I know that the uncertainty regarding the supply from week to week adds to the stress in the workplace, but others more involved in managing nuclear medicine departments would be better placed to comment on that.
As a clinician, however, I am pleased that my patients have been able to have their investigations and treatments within a reasonably acceptable timeframe. However, a situation such as this makes one review one's own clinical practice and forces one to become more selective in requesting these investigations, while at the same time ensuring that treatment is not compromised in any way. So while the situation is not ideal, we have coped so far.
From a provincial perspective, the tremendous cooperation and collaboration between the health zones and authorities in the province have been very satisfying. Resources and information have been shared to ensure that patient needs have been met. Again, the dedication of the nuclear medicine staff cannot be overemphasized.
As the New Brunswick representative on the FPT working group on isotopes, I would like to acknowledge the tremendous support we have received from Health Canada. The convening of weekly teleconferences, the regular updates in the supply situation, and their efforts to ensure that suppliers give us forecasts for the immediate future have helped us with planning at the local level. I would also like to acknowledge my colleagues from the other provinces in this group for so freely sharing information on supply and methods to help cope with and manage the shortage. It has been extremely helpful.
In summary, I'm pleased to say that up to now we have coped with the situation well, but I remain anxious about how we are going to face the future as the uncertainty about the supply continues. This perpetual state of crisis is not healthy.
Thank you.