The British Columbia administration has announced plans to expand its gynaecological oncology surgical services to additional areas.

The expansion plans also include the addition of new care teams and gynaecological oncologists across the province.

This development is aimed at improving specialised surgical and related treatment of cancer for women and people assigned female at birth, particularly for those suffering from gynaecologic cancers.

To address the increasing demand for care in this field, new programmes will be set up in Kelowna and Surrey, supplementing the existing services in Vancouver and Victoria.

These are separate from two current programmes in Vancouver and Victoria, which delivered gynaecological cancer care previously to people across the province.

The expansion also includes the recruitment of seven new gynaecological oncologists who will join cancer-care teams comprising up to 76 full-time equivalents (FTE) of various healthcare professionals.

The Kelowna programme, set to commence in September this year, will be staffed by three gynaecological oncologists and up to 27 FTEs of new clinical and administrative support staff.

Surrey will also see the introduction of a new programme, staffed by three gynaecological oncologists and a support team to boost pre- and post-surgery care.

In Victoria, the existing services will be bolstered by a third gynaecological oncologist, up to 22 FTEs of new staff, and increased operating room hours.

Vancouver's programme will grow to seven gynaecological oncologist FTEs and 20 FTEs of new staff, with additional operating-room hours at Vancouver General Hospital already in place since January.

These initiatives are supported by A$270m ($180.4m) allocation over three years as outlined in Budget 2024.

British Columbia Premier David Eby said: “Over the past 10 years, rates of gynaecological cancer have increased by almost 50%. “When someone is diagnosed, they need the best possible care, close to home, where they have the support of friends and family. We are establishing new surgical and treatment services in Kelowna and Surrey and further expanding services in Vancouver and Victoria.

"The expansion of this critical provincial program includes hiring more health-care workers and nearly doubling the number of surgeons providing gynaecologic cancer care in BC.”