‘The feedback is really positive’: Nurse practitioners help improve access to cancer care at LHSC

An expanded cancer care nurse practitioner team at LHSC is helping lessen the burden on its oncology clinic. Reta Ismail explains.

At London Health Sciences Centre’s Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre, nurse practitioners are helping patients receive cancer care faster — and with a more personal touch.

These advanced clinicians are transforming treatment delivery, improving access, and ensuring patients get the attention they need when they need it most.

“Nurse practitioners are an essential part of our cancer care team,” said Dr. Ricardo Fernandes, medical oncologist at the Verspeeten Family Cancer Centre. “They’re able to see patients sooner and address their concerns and questions.”

By working alongside oncologists, nurse practitioners or NPs, are reducing wait times and improving continuity of care. In just one year, two NPs at the centre managed nearly 1,000 patient visits, saving the equivalent of 62 oncology clinic days.

“Once patients understand the purpose of my clinic, the feedback is really positive,” said nurse practitioner Matthew Parezanovic. “We talk about what their PSA means, treatment side effects — and that ongoing dialogue makes a big difference.”

The number of nurse practitioners at the centre has grown from three to 13 since 2017, reflecting their expanding role across multiple cancer types — including prostate, breast, and lung cancers.

“We really get to know people,” said nurse practitioner Sari Belzycki. “We’re not afraid to have those deeper, sometimes sensitive conversations about what their cancer means to them.”

With one in two Canadians expected to face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, oncologists say expanding NP-led clinics is critical to meeting growing demand. LHSC says this collaborative approach ensures every patient receives timely, compassionate, and expert care through every step of their cancer journey.