The committee reviewed a draft version of the board’s new radiation strategy, which is intended to address the delays.
The wait list to see a radiation oncologist had jumped to 157 last week – against the board’s ideal wait list of 70 patients, representing a month’s work, Kelly said.
“[This is] the highest it’s ever been. Our wait list is the worst in the country,” Kelly said, adding that at some point, staff needed to take leave.
A report from the executive director of specialist services Patrick Ng showed that the board was struggling to meet faster cancer treatment targets set by the Ministry of Health.