Sask. says new breast health centre in Regina will open doors to patients next week

As Wayne Mantyka reports, there are questions over whether Regina’s Breast Health Centre will alleviate the backlog of patients.

The province says a new breast health centre in Regina will open its doors to patients on April 23.

The new centre will provide services including diagnostic imaging, biopsies, specialist consultations, patient education and navigation, as well as other future on-site post treatment therapies and rehabilitation, the province said in a news release.

The province says that a “streamlined approach of co-location of essential services at the centre will let family physicians and nurse practitioners provide a single referral instead of coordinating multiple ones, which will in-turn reduce wait times and improve patients’ experiences.”

• Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device

According to the province, patients will receive care that is coordinated from the time they are referred by their primary care provider through assessment, diagnosis and treatment if necessary, including surgery or referral to an oncologist while also providing connections to therapies, rehabilitation and reconstructions.

“Multi-disciplinary teams will include breast radiologists, breast specialized surgeons, nurse navigators, diagnostic imaging professionals, physiotherapists, a social worker and support administrative staff all working together and closely collaborating as a team to provide timely care and a better patient experience,” the province said in the release.

Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said the centre represents a significant investment in health and the wellbeing of women in Saskatchewan and will have a positive impact to breast health services in the province.

“Women will now have improved access to a full range of breast health services and the supports they need to help them through the difficult journey of diagnosis, treatment and recovery in a centralized way,” Cockrill said.

The province said it invested $8.5 million to open the new centre, including building renovations, diagnostic equipment and staffing.

Lies about staffing, future of existing centre in question: NDP

In a news release Monday morning, the Saskatchewan NDP released leaked emails and alleged that the Sask. Party broke an election promise by “quietly reassigning” staff from existing health facilities rather than hiring new employees.

According to the NDP, one leaked email showed Pasqua Hospital employees asking for confirmation and clarification regarding their transfer to the new breast health centre, nothing that “other technologists” at Pasqua’s Breast Assessment Centre have already been transferred to the new breast health centre.

The NDP said another message warned that the current Breast Assessment Centre inside Regina’s Pasqua Hospital will not exist as of next month.

“Women who need urgent breast cancer care will still have to fly to Calgary because the Sask. Party isn’t hiring the staff we need,” NDP MLA Vicki Mowat said in the release.

“They said one thing to get elected and then did the opposite.”

The NDP says that for months the province said the new building would boost capacity and bring in out-of-province results.

“Behind closed doors, the Sask. Party has been moving staff from the Pasqua Hospital’s Breast Assessment Centre, raising fears that it may soon close,” the NDP said in the release.

In a statement emailed to CTV News on Monday the province said the Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) will be transferring advanced mammography services from its Breast Assessment Centre to the new Breast Health Centre.

The province also said in the statement that approximately 13 positions at Regina’s Breast Health Centre will be new – but confirmed some transfers will take place.

“These are net new positions over and above any existing positions within the SHA prior to the Breast Health Centre opening,” the statement read. “In addition, some positions are being relocated from the current Breast Assessment Centre at the Pasqua Hospital.”

The province did not say how many transfers were taking place.