Radiation appointments cut at Halifax cancer centre because of staff shortage

A staffing shortage has pushed Nova Scotia Health to scale back the hours of radiation appointments at the cancer centre in Halifax.

The site is one of two that offer radiation therapy in Nova Scotia, and serves as a regional hub for treatment of complex cases from across the Atlantic provinces. The Cape Breton centre is operating at capacity.

CBC News has learned the change occurred at the beginning of March, with the radiation department in Halifax closing 1½ hours earlier than usual every day due to staffing issues.

Nova Scotia Health says there are 14 vacancies for radiation therapists, who are responsible for operating the machines and administering the treatment to cancer patients. The health authority said it is closely monitoring the situation to ensure care isn’t compromised.

Jennifer Carey, the Atlantic manager of the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists, estimates those vacancies represent 25 per cent of the department’s complement.

Carey said patients already have enough to deal with when they receive a diagnosis.

“But there comes a point where we have to see the reality for what it is and make sure patients are aware of how this could potentially affect them, and that time is now,” she said.

“Patients should be scared, and they should be asking their elected officials what are they doing to fix this.”

One radiation therapist said morale in the department is low, and staff struggle with interpersonal conflicts because of the increasing stress and workload.

CBC is not identifying the therapist because of a concern about repercussions at work.

“I would hope that patients know that we have their best interests at heart every single day, that we’re there to fight for them,” said the employee, who estimates as many as 48 radiation appointments a day are going unfilled.

The issue isn’t limited to Nova Scotia. A national shortage of radiation therapists has many provinces struggling with recruitment, Carey said.

She said about 2,900 people are registered with her association, which includes radiation therapists in all provinces but British Columbia, which is not regulated.

In 2025, 108 graduates and international applicants passed their certification exam.

“There’s only so much that a small group of people can do to make up for such a large shortage. They’re feeling a lot of pressure,” Carey said.

“They know as a profession what the consequences of this will be long term. Which is also weighing on them. Because there isn’t a light at the end of this tunnel that they can see.”

The health authority would not make anyone available for an interview, but it emailed responses to a series of questions. It said cancer patients are being triaged and prioritized for radiation based on clinical need.

The authority said it is monitoring wait times and will ensure any urgent cases receive immediate care.

The radiation therapist said staff are now being asked to work mandatory overtime to see those additional patients.

There are no plans to send patients out of province for care, which Newfoundland and Labrador did in 2023 when it faced a similar shortage.

The staffing issues have advocates like Carey and Heather Mulligan of the Canadian Cancer Society calling for creative solutions.

Mulligan points out Nova Scotia has some of the highest cancer rates in the country.

“The cancer prevalence rate is not going to go down either, in our province. As our population ages and as our population grows, cancer burden is going to continue to grow in lockstep,” she said. “We need a health-care system that also is fitting and meeting that need.”

There are no radiation therapy training programs on the East Coast. Instead, people have to attend university in Ontario or further west to pursue the career.

Both Carey and Mulligan are calling on the Nova Scotia government to revisit a proposal to create a 10-seat program at Dalhousie University that the treasury board rejected in the recent budget.

Right now, Nova Scotia Health buys two seats at the Michener Institute of Education in Toronto. Mulligan said a program closer to home would benefit all the Atlantic provinces.

“We know that patient care is being impacted, not just here in Nova Scotia, but in our region.”

Nova Scotia’s Health Department did not reply to a request for comment.

Mulligan suggested the governments in Atlantic Canada could split the cost of a Dalhousie program, guaranteeing spots for students from all four provinces.

The governments of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador told CBC they would be open to such an opportunity, as both have signed agreements buying dozens of seats in other health-care programs at Dalhousie.

“If we’re already shortening service delivery and limiting service delivery now, that will only get worse if this waits any longer,” said Carey.

Nova Scotia Health said it does not know how long the hours will continue to be reduced. Two new radiation therapists are set to start work in May, and the health authority has made offers to four others.

It said it does not know of any other impending departures within the unit this year.

The radiation therapist is hoping that by drawing attention to the issue, employees will be heard.

The therapist said the province has invested in new technology in the department in recent years but that can only go so far in helping patients if there’s no staff to operate it.

“I think people feel pretty beaten down, like we’re not what’s important in running radiation therapy. That it’s more about the equipment or the high-tech things that they can put in the news.”

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