KELOWNA-MISSION MLA Renee Merrifield is pressing the NDP government to immediately fix the unacceptably long and sometimes tragic wait times that cancer patients in British Columbia face.

In the Legislature on Monday, Merrifield spoke about how only one in five B.C. cancer patients received their first consultation within the recommended two weeks. Cancer patients often find themselves on waitlists for months, resulting in significant psychological suffering, increased cost of care, and a lowered chance of survival.
Merrifield also called for increased support for oncologists, who are forced to leave the province due to a lack of resources as they tackle burnout. British Columbians deserve the best cancer care possible, but the government’s lack of action to address extensive wait times is costing lives, she said.