Sask. cancer patient shares challenges of health system
Through her time as a patient and a clinical social worker, Shannon Orell-bast heard a near-constant refrain from doctors, nurses and staff.
“We are short-staffed and everyone is urgent,” she said at the Legislative Building on Tuesday.
Orell-bast spoke about her own experience advocating for others and herself while trying to navigate Saskatchewan's health-care system. She spoke primarily in favour of improving conditions for Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) workers in a bid to retain health sector employees and as a way to improve outcomes.
“If they're not well, we are not well,” said Orell-bast. “Our people need to be well.”
Orell-bast was diagnosed with cancer in August 2022. Since then she's had a double mastectomy, 16 rounds of chemotherapy, 25 of radiation, 17 immunotherapy sessions, and ongoing health concerns from the treatment itself.
At times tearing up, Orell-bast said she was at the Legislative Building “advocating for the workers” who have helped her through her diagnosis and treatment.
From the floor of the assembly, Minister of Health Everett Hindley mentioned new treatment centres and the provincial plan to recruit and retain workers. Orellbast said there should be some consideration as to why people left the field and how Saskatchewan got into its current predicament.
“You can put in infrastructure, you can put in machines, you can put in whatever you want, but people have to operate these and they need to be well,” said Orell-bast.
Opposition Leader Carla Beck said Orell-bast is one of many women in Saskatchewan to have difficulty getting medical help.
She's “someone who has struggled to get care but also someone who has a lot of experience navigating the system,” said Beck.
During an exchange at Tuesday's question period, Jared Clarke, NDP critic for rural and remote health, asked the health minister what he was doing to improve conditions for SHA and other health workers.
“This minister needs to end the culture of fear and burnout so we can fix the crisis in retaining health-care workers and get people in this province the care that they need,” said Clarke.
Hindley responded, mentioning an interview Clarke did Monday where he was asked what his plan is to address shortages and healthcare gaps.
“He would listen. That's all he said — he would listen. He has no plan,” said Hindley. Clarke mentioned on Tuesday the creation of a “nursing task force” which could offer input on workplace issues.
“For me as a breast-cancer patient, listening is important,” said Orell-bast. “Health-care employees are not OK, they're not well, especially after COVID. We need to look after our people”
Orell-bast also took issue with how members of the government behaved during introductions of some 17 nursing students. Not all but some members “talked over them,” she said. “You turned around, you scrolled on your phone. That's not listening.”
Speaking after question period, Hindley said he met with Orellbast in December and was looking forward to speaking with her again. The minister said conversations he's had since being in the role have guided the government's decision to build a new Breast Health Care Centre in Regina.
“That helps inform what we decide as government,” said Hindley, who added that he's had a lot of honest feedback from health-care workers who say there are issues within the current system. “Right across the board we need to be training more health-care workers.”