Dr. Brady Anderson, the only medical oncologist working outside Winnipeg, will leave that role on Nov. 13, saying the province and CancerCare Manitoba ignored his repeated calls for support.
Anderson has practised at the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre in Brandon for four years. He will then start work as a hospitalist at the Brandon Regional Health Centre. He told CBC News on Friday that stepping away from oncology "has been quite devastating."
Anderson said the workload and the lack of support from the province and CancerCare Manitoba led to his burnout. The Brandon site has two family doctors trained in oncology and three radiation oncologists, but he said responsibility for major decisions, diagnoses and big changes to treatment plans falls on him. He said that leaves him on call by default.
"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.
He said promised help, including nurse practitioners, clinical assistants or physician assistants, never materialized. He said he oversees the treatment and follow-up of several hundred patients at any given time, and that his main concern is a gap in care in the Westman region.
A provincial government spokesperson said another medical oncologist started about a month ago and will take on Anderson's workload. Anderson said he has been given next to no information on future coverage plans despite asking repeatedly to be involved, and he has concerns about whether the same workload is sustainable for his successor.
Twylla Krueger, director of communications for CancerCare Manitoba, said in a written statement that another medical oncologist will be assigned to the Western Manitoba Cancer Centre after Anderson leaves. She said patients will keep receiving care at their preferred CancerCare Manitoba location, with no interruption.
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said in question period on Thursday that the government is working with Prairie Mountain Health to recruit and retain more professionals in the region.
Brandon West MLA Wayne Balcaen raised the departure in the legislature, saying it will affect thousands of people whose lives have been changed by cancer. "This is not just a Brandon problem, it's a Westman problem," Balcaen said.
Doctors Manitoba spokesperson Keir Johnson said in an email that 23 medical oncologists are listed as working in Manitoba, 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.
Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett said he expects no disruption in Westman and called Anderson an asset as a hospitalist. Anderson, who was born and raised in Westman, said he is glad to stay in Brandon.
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