Saskatoon losing two women’s cancer MDS

The Saskatchewan Health Authority is losing two gynecologic oncologist specialists from the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency’s Saskatoon clinic.

Patients were alerted of the departures of Dr. Christopher Giede and Dr. Anita Agrawal, in a letter issued on Oct. 17 by Dr. Monica Behl, the vice president of medical services and senior medical officer with the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency.

The letter noted Giede is on an indefinite leave from practice and Agrawal will leave her practice permanently in December.

A later statement from the SHA noted that the reason for the departures were personal in nature.

While the SHA was not able to provide a spokesperson for comment, it instead issued a statement offering assurance that arrangements have been made to ensure patients will continue receiving care in a timely manner and that the health authority is currently working with Saskdocs to fill the vacancies.

Before new specialists can be recruited, the SHA said it will put measures in place to maintain the quality of care for new and existing gynecologic oncology patients.

Currently, new patients are prioritized on a provincial scale and sent for treatment to the clinics best able to meet their needs. The letter notes the possibility of treatment through the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency clinic in Regina, where a team of gyne-oncologists continues to treat patients.

Patients already in treatment will continued to be cared for by doctors assigned temporarily until a new long-term care plan can be put in place; patients nearing discharge from treatment within the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency will be transitioned for followup care to a family doctor or gynecologist.