Province Determined to Reduce Surgical Wait Times

Thursday, February 02, 2006 04:00 AM

The Province has announced a plan aimed at reducing surgical wait times for hip and knee surgeries.

Premier Gordon Campbell notes there have already been some improvements, “We are doing more surgeries than ever before, and our health professionals have made significant progress in reducing wait times over the last four years.” The Premier also recognizes there are challenges "the number of new cases continues to grow. These pressures are bound to continue as our aging population gets even healthier and leads more active lives."

The $60.5-million wait time reduction plan includes:

· A new Centre for Surgical Innovation at UBC Hospital – $25 million in 2006/07 to support dedicated operating rooms to help clear patient backlogs for hip and knee surgery.

· Additional funding to immediately address existing backlogs – $25 million in 2005/06 for health authorities across the province to immediately increase the number of surgeries with a focus on joint replacement surgery.

While the funding is expected to benefit the Northern Health region, it remains to be seen if the region will be open to the idea of using private clinics. At this point , Northern Health is the only health region which doesn't use private health clinics.

The Premier has indicated the strategy will mean the province will use all resources, including private clinics, to achieve its wait time goals.

One specialist indicated a doubling of surgical time at private clinics could make significant reductions in wait lists for joint surgeries.

The new plan would also set aside $5 million dollars for a patient registry to better manage the surgical backlog, and another $5.5 million for a Hip Health Research Centre at vancouver general Hospital.

About half of all surgeries are done immediately and are never wait-listed because they are determined to be emergency or urgent cases. About 75 per cent of elective surgeries on the wait list are done in just over three months.

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Posted on Thursday, February 02, 2006 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: ammonra on February 2 2006 7:20 AM

"One specialist indicated a doubling of surgical time at private clinics could make significant reductions in wait lists for joint surgeries."

It should be said, as well, that a doubling of surgical time at public hospitals could make significant reductions in wait lists for joint surgeries as well! And it would be more cost effective.

Posted by: Gofaster on February 2 2006 9:40 AM

This I have got too see, sorry but this goverment, no they don't lie, but they omit information, I suppose that is almost the same, have been playing games for so long I do not beleive one thing they say until I see it. I also fear that most of this "Windfall" will go to the lower mainland as usuall...that is my opinion.....

Posted by: diplomat on February 2 2006 12:15 PM

>sorry but this goverment, no they don't lie,<

The NDP government was the same: It didn't lie either. The waiting lists were just as long, if not longer and people died in the ambulances waiting to get admitted into Emergency.

The NDP had ten long years to make a difference: it made things worse, in fact.

That's why the NDP had only TWO MLA's in the Victoria legislature.

Some people forget, others do remember.

Politicians love voters who have amnesia. All politicians, no exception.

Posted by: Percy on February 2 2006 8:26 PM

What's with all of the need to replace hips and joints? Has anyone in the medical profession mentioned spending some money on research as to why so many people are falling apart?

How about a study and some money spent on why healthy people are healthy and then some money on education on how to achieve a healthy body.

It amazes me how many smart people are so determined to continue in the wrong direction and want to spend more money on the wrong things and yet expect different results. Percy