N.B. Green Party says wait times for breast cancer screenings are too long

The New Brunswick Green Party says women are facing too long a wait for breast cancer screenings across the province, due to a shortage of medical radiation technologists. (Photo: Darcy Seaton/CTV News Edmonton)

The New Brunswick Green Party says women are facing too long of a wait for breast cancer screenings across the province, due to a shortage of medical radiation technologists.

Green Party leader David Coon said women are waiting an average of 175 days to receive a mammogram in his riding of Fredericton Lincoln.

“Our health system just cannot function on a skeleton crew of medical radiation technologists who carry out this type of screening,” said Coon. “But that’s what we’ve got, because the government is failing to retain them and recruit new graduates. They’re burnt out and feeling disrespected.”

Coon has been pushing the provincial government to introduce recruitment and retention incentives for medical radiation technologists, in line with what doctors and registered nurses have received.

Premier Susan Holt and Health Minister Dr. John Dronan have previously said retention payments have helped to reverse the Horizon Health Network’s nurse turnover rate from more than five per cent on average to below one per cent last year.

Earlier this month, Horizon’s regional director of medical imaging Celina Bountalas said there were 12 full-time equivalency vacancies at Fredericton’s Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital, and three vacancies at the Upper River Valley hospital (along with two upcoming maternity leaves).

“The recruitment and retention of medical imaging professionals remains challenging amid a highly competitive environment and a limited supply of new graduates,” said Bountalas, in a statement. “Horizon continues to actively recruit to fill vacant positions, and we remain committed to maintaining quality, timely diagnostic imaging services for our patients.”

Coon said the upcoming summer vacation schedule would only put more pressure on staffing levels, creating longer wait times.

“Retention bonuses for nurses, lab techs, and stenographers have been provided but not for MRTs,” said Coon. “Neighbouring provinces pay higher wages and offer signing and retention bonuses. Women are being diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer because they didn’t get early screening. In fact, less than half of the women in New Brunswick get breast cancer screening.”

New Brunswick’s Department of Health says people living in New Brunswick who are 40 to 74 years of age and have no signs, symptoms or previous diagnosis of breast cancer can self-refer for breast cancer screening.

People over 74 who have no signs, symptoms or previous diagnosis of breast cancer are accepted for screening mammography only by referral from a primary health-care provider.

The province says screening mammography should be done every one to two years for individuals aged 40 to 49 and every two to three years for individuals aged 50 to 74 if the results are normal. The province says routine breast cancer screening is not recommended for individuals under the age of 40.

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.