The Health Minister confirms that government is still sending some cancer patients to Ontario for treatment, one year after government started the practice due to staffing shortages.

The measure was taken after a number of radiation therapists resigned last year, leading to the shut down of a radiation unit at the Health Sciences.

Tom Osborne was responding to questions from Opposition House Leader Barry Petten in the House of Assembly.

“We would like to stop having to send patients to Toronto, but the alternative is that they don’t have the care they need.” He says an agreement has been reached to continue sending patients to Toronto for treatment while recruitment is underway. Osborne says six people have been recruited for the cancer centre, but until the fourth unit is up and running, some patients will continue to be sent to Ontario.