Talks open to avert resignations of 3 gynecologic oncologists

A pitch was made Wednesday to avert the pending resignation of all three of Newfoundland and Labrador's gynecologic oncologists, though an advocate says the problem won't be solved without extra money and resources.

Three St. John's-based specialists — Lesa Dawson, Patti Power and Cathy Popadiuk — have informed the Eastern Health regional authority they will resign effective Oct. 7 if serious action is not taken on improving patient care and safety.

Dr. Elizabeth Callahan, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Medical Association, met with Health Minister Ross Wiseman on Wednesday. Power attended the meeting on behalf of the oncologists, who have been asking for greater resources, including support staff and access to surgery.

Callahan said the physicians were not seeking an immediate resolution to the dispute, which sparked national attention earlier this month when Wiseman said the province was prepared to fly patients out of province for treatment.

"The meeting was set up in order to share information back and forth between us. It was not set up as a meeting to come to any final decision," Callahan told CBC News after the meeting.

The gynecologic oncologists were also left out of a generous pay package awarded to medical and radiation oncologists, as well as pathologists, this spring. The NLMA has said that salaries are not a key concern, but agreed that improving support services and addressing other quality-of-work issues will require spending.

"We certainly implied to [Wiseman] and he agreed that this had to be a high-level meeting," Callahan said. "We have to have people present who have the authority to make some very definite decisions."

Callahan said that does not mean Premier Danny Williams needs to attend the meetings. Instead, she said, the physicians and the NLMA will need to meet with appropriate Eastern Health officials as well as Wiseman.

Callahan said that Williams at some point, though, will need to become involved in finding a solution to the physicians' problems.

Callahan said she did not know how much money it would cost to resolve the oncologists' concerns.

She also credited Eastern Health officials with working on finding solutions to problems that the physicians have identified.

Flying patients out not an option: Callahan

Meanwhile, Callahan said she believes that government now recognizes it is unrealistic to fly patients with gynecological cancers, including those who are at risk of death, to other provinces for care. The statement was severely criticized by medical and cancer groups, who said it would be harsh treatment and that other jurisdictions do not even have capacity to handle out-of-province cases.

"I don't know if they were actually planning to move people," Callahan said in an interview.

"I think it was more to keep the general public from becoming upset at the fact that this could actually happen."

She said, though, that the clock is ticking.

"It's going to have to be done quickly," she said, adding that the government will need to have feasible care arrangements ready if the physicians leave.

"They have to have a plan in place, and [the physicians] have had offers."

Meanwhile, officials in Wiseman's office said Wednesday he has nothing new to report on this issue.