Funding for Cancer Care

Nova Scotians will receive enhanced cancer care closer to home as a result of $1 million the government is investing in a new medical oncology satellite in Kentville and expanded services for Inverness, Antigonish, New Glasgow and Yarmouth.

Health Minister Chris d'Entremont and representatives from Cancer Care Nova Scotia announced the new funding today, March 21, to further support satellite cancer services for rural Nova Scotia.

The money includes payment for new positions such as nurses, pharmacists and clerical support as well as physicians' costs to provide more services in the districts.

"This investment will help make it easier for rural patients to receive care closer to home," said Mr. d'Entremont. "Together, our government, Cancer Care Nova Scotia and the district health authorities are committed to high quality cancer treatment and care."

The Department of Health is able to invest in additional services in Kentville next month because an Annapolis Valley physician has just completed the medical oncology residency program at Dalhousie University and is returning to her hometown to help local cancer patients.

"We're very fortunate to have retained Dr. Julia Petrie as a medical oncologist and welcome her in her new role with Annapolis Valley Health," said CEO Janet Knox. "This investment will build on the chemotherapy services we are offering and help patients across our district."

Cancer Care Nova Scotia's Maureen MacIntyre, who will chair the newly established provincial satellite oncology oversight and advisory committee, said there will be a standardized approach to ensure quality care at the satellite medical and radiation oncology clinics in Nova Scotia. "All planning has and will continue to be based on the principle of providing patients with safe, high quality, standardized cancer care as close to home as possible," she said.

All referrals for cancer services will be managed by the two provincial cancer centres: the Cape Breton Cancer Centre in Sydney, and the Nova Scotia Cancer Centre in Halifax. A committee led by Cancer Care Nova Scotia will monitor the clinics for the next 12 to 18 months to address any issues.

"We've all worked together on the planning of this. Our goal is to make sure that patients and families using satellite clinics have access to the same standard of care as they would at a cancer centre," said Vickie Sullivan, director of Capital Health's cancer care program.

"Being able to receive this care closer to home will minimize travel for some patients and reduce some of the stress associated with that," said Mona Baryluk, director of the Cape Breton Cancer Centre.