Already a challenge, worry grows that design may further hinder recruitment at promised Kamloops cancer centre

KAMLOOPS — Construction is expected to begin on the Kamloops cancer centre this summer, as the procurement phase of the project wraps up, with patients set to begin receiving treatment in the city by 2028. Despite shovels expected to hit the dirt in the months ahead, politicians, doctors and others have been raising concerns with the design of the cancer centre and a lack of a space for a PET-CT scanner.

“We have heard lots of different reasons and excuses from the government, back to this minister’s predecessor, for why this design has to be this way — anywhere from the sites constriction to cost to the building footprint,” said Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar on April 9 in the B.C. legislature.

Milobar has long been fighting the design of the proposed Kamloops cancer centre, recently joining with four other MLAs, including Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer and Fraser-Nicola MLA Tony Luck, to write a letter demanding action from government. The letter that received support from Kamloops city council on Tuesday (May 6).

“It’s equitable health care. This isn’t asking for anything more than any community in British Columbia,” said Councillor Mike O’Reilly, who also chairs the Thompson Regional Hospital District.

Like the current Nanaimo project, the Kamloops centre will not have a PET-CT scanner. However unlike Nanaimo, it will also not even have a space for a future PET-CT to go within the building that has yet to break ground.

“We do not accept that in order for us to have equitable care, we also have a delayed project,” said Councillor Katie Neustaeter. “This was already supposed to be completed. It certainly should have been completed to the standard of any other community. I think that is number one — we expect that this will not be further delayed. We expect that it will be on par with other care.”

“It isn’t so much the equipment itself, it’s the space for it. Fundraising can happen for the equipment. There is money out there to be had. It’s building the space for the equipment,” added O’Reilly. “Specifically, the next major capital build at the Royal Inland Hospital campus is Phase 3 scheduled for around 2040, which is when it would be looked at to find a space for potential PET-CT. That’s too long to wait.”

Along with proper and adequate medical care, a redesign would undoubtedly help with recruitment and retention of physicians in Kamloops, as the local facility would square up evenly with centers is other parts of the province.

“Our oncologists do a fantastic job at Royal Inland Hospital, there is no question. What they are really lacking is the supports,” noted O’Reilly. “We have had a job posting for an oncologist for a little over 10 years at Royal Inland Hospital that we haven’t been able to hire anybody for. And we have an oncologist in their 70s. It’s a dire situation.”

The health minister has previously stated that a redesign would result in delays, something she believes Kamloops residents do not want to see. Construction is set to begin this summer.