The Regional Health Authorities in Newfoundland and Labrador are now in the process of contacting the next of kin of deceased patients whose estrogen and progesterone hormone receptor (ER/PR) tests were re-tested as part of the provincial breast cancer review.
The Regional Health Authorities in Newfoundland and Labrador are now in the process of contacting the next of kin of deceased patients whose estrogen and progesterone hormone receptor (ER/PR) tests were re-tested as part of the provincial breast cancer review.
According to data provided by the Newfoundland and Labrador Centre for Health Information (NLCHI), there are 404 deceased patients whose ER/PR results were sent to the laboratory at Mount Sinai Hospital for re-testing. While there has been contact made with some next of kin as a result of previous efforts to identify them, the regional health authorities are making all best efforts to ensure that all next of kin have been contacted as recommended in the Cameron Report.
“We are hoping that through this effort, we will be able to inform all remaining next of kin that the retest results for their family member are available,” said Vickie Kaminski, President and CEO of Eastern Health. “On behalf of all the regional health authorities, we understand that receiving these letters may cause some distress for these families; however, we believe it is important that they are notified that these retest results exist and can have the opportunity to get those results if they wish.”
This week, registered letters are being sent to the next of kin to explain how to obtain the re-test results. If a family member has already been in contact with a health authority regarding retest results, they will not receive a letter. There would be no need for the family to follow up as all information was provided at that time.
Family members wishing to obtain the re-test results should contact the Regional Health Authority in their area, Monday to Friday at the following numbers:
Eastern Health 1-866-445-4548
Central Heath 1-888-799-2272
Western Health 1-888-637-5042
Labrador-Grenfell 1-709-454-0268
For protection and privacy of the deceased patients, family members will be asked to verify they are the next of kin.
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Media contacts:
Deborah Collins
Manager, Media Relations
Eastern Health
709-777-1339
Deborah.Collins@easternhealth.ca
Roger Pike
Director of Communications
Central Health
709-256-5532
roger.pike@centralhealth.nl.ca
Heidi Staeben-Simmons
Director of Communications
Western Health
709-637-5252
heidistaebensimmons@westernhealth.nl.ca
Alison Dower
Director of Communications
Labrador-Grenfell Health
709-454-0128
alison.dower@lghealth.ca