Hip and Knee Surgery Wait Lists Slip

Friday, August 04, 2006 05:02 PM

The B.C. Ministry of Health is reporting good news on the amount of time people have been waiting for non-emergency hip and knee surgeries in B.C.

According to the Ministry, the median wait time for hip surgery dropped more than seven weeks from 22.6 weeks at the end of June 2005 to 15.4 weeks at the end of June 2006.

The median wait time for knee surgery dropped almost four weeks from 27.9 weeks at the end of June 2005 to 24 weeks at the end of June 2006.

Here are the wait times for hip and knee surgeries at PGRH as at June 30th 2006:

Provincial median wait time for hip replacement is 15.4 weeks.

Only two of the six surgeons performing hip replacement surgery at Prince George Regional Hospital fall below that Provincial median mark. One had a median wait time of 6.1 weeks while another had a median wait time of 14.3 weeks. Three of the surgeons have a median wait time of 24 weeks or more.

When it comes to knee replacement, here's how PGRH stacks up against the Provincial median wait time of 24 weeks.

There are 4 of the 6 orthopedic surgeons who have median wait times that fall below the provincial mark. One registers a median wait time of 5.4 weeks, followed by 19.1, the third checks in with 21 weeks and the fourth squeezes in under the provincial mark at 23.9 weeks.

Wait times for other surgeries can be viewed here.

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Posted on Friday, August 04, 2006 05:02 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: REALIST on August 4 2006 7:46 PM

I am currently awaiting to see an orthopedic surgeon about a torn cartilage in my knee. The wait time to get into the doctor is now TWO YEARS!!!! Then I'll need diagnostic testing, another long wait but at least I know the wait times for surgury are shorter. Meanwhile, you the taxpayer continue to pay for my disability. It sucks for me to live in pain and discomfort in excess of three years but, as a tax payer i'm incenced at the waste of tax dollars. This statistic is just another example of our government trying to turn a pigs ear into a silk purse through propaganda.

Posted by: Simple Simon on August 4 2006 8:13 PM

My brother got his knee done at the Cambie clinic in Vancouver (no fun city) fer a few hunnert bucks. No waiting. Look into it, pal.

Posted by: Chester on August 4 2006 9:54 PM

Hey, this is the fair medical system so many are fighting to preserve. Everyone waits their turn.

It would be totally unfair, if anyone had the opportunity to go to a private clinic and pay for their operation personally. Wouldn't it?

After all, we must bring everyone down to the lowest common demoninator to make it fair for everyone. Isn't that what everyone wants who is fighting against private alternatives for those who choose to pay for services themselves?

Gee, if all of those people who could afford to, got their operations done in a private clinic, would that shorten the lineups at the public clinics? Chester

Posted by: REALIST on August 4 2006 10:15 PM

The reality is that we do not have enough doctors to serve the people (be they private or public). I simply do not have the finacial resources to pay for what we are guaranteed to have provided. Further, my doctor refuses to send his patients to out of town doctors because he claims that if there are complications, there is no one who will fix the problems. Who knows if your brother had not paid a doctor to jump the line, that doctor might have been available to fix my knee. Thanks for paying my bills, Simple Simon work extra hard for me for the next couple of years so I can stay at home and wait.

Posted by: Simple Simon on August 4 2006 11:13 PM

My bro don't have to jump the line at the dentist neither. His dentist takes cash/dental plan, even Mastercard. Hmmm? No shortage or waiting lines with dentists. Different world, eh? No guilt or pain with my bro.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on August 5 2006 7:42 AM

Ya - like everyone wants to try something new.

Posted by: kimbo on August 5 2006 10:11 AM

"The amount of time people have been waiting for none emergency hip and knee surgeries" Dosent that tell us something.
I often wonder why they are being done in the first place. These procedures have become an industry in itself. Along with heart surgery they are bankrupting our health care funds. Why not spend a couple of bucks on some Absorbine Junior and start looking after our own health.

We have had conclusive evidence for over 40 years that smoking and the lack of physical exercise are detrimantal to our health yet we plod along and expect our Doctors to solve all our health problems. It is unfortunate that there arent more Doctors that would tell their patients, "Stop smoking or find another doctor".

This is my opinion so pour it on.

Posted by: trusted on August 6 2006 8:33 AM

Hitting home, kimbo?
A friend of mine was just told by her Doctor that the health system was not providing her with free prescriptions so she had the extra money to buy cigarettes. He told her point blank he was not too interested in having her as a patient if she persisted in smoking.
Lo and behold-she QUIT. So did her husband-at her insistence!
Now there is a doctor that has my respect.
Tells it like it is!

Posted by: kimbo on August 6 2006 10:26 AM

I thought my opinion would get me a lot of flack. So far so good.

I quit smoking over 30 years ago. It took three tries and my Doctor told me, "stop smoking or you will stop breathing.I was lucky my wife didn't smoke but if one member quit and the other didn't it would be difficult hoe. I also quit drinking beer as the bar scene would drive me wacky for a smoke.

As a reired person at todays prices I couldn't afford to smoke.

Cheers.

Posted by: REALIST on August 6 2006 10:40 AM

Undoubtably, smoking is bad for you. I also quit several years ago and I have been gratefull for the descision ever since. The addiction to tobacco is a difficult one. Because the sale of tobacco is legal, any doctor who refuses to provide perscriptions based upon his client smoking is opening themselves up for a legal battle. Perhaps a better approach would be to refuse the patient as a client. This would solve the ethical issue of "Enabling a smoker" while also protecting everyone's rights. But then again we are way off topic. The desimation of our healthcare system is just a ploy to get it privatized. If doctors are available for wait list jumpers, then they are also be available for public health care needs. This is at the core of the stupidity of those who claim private health care is superior. Meanwhile, everyone pays those who await doctors, tests and surgury. As long as the public agrees to this fleecing of tax dollars nothing will change.

Posted by: REALIST on August 6 2006 10:42 AM

upon rereading trusted's post I realize theat the doctor was refusing to have the smoker as a patient. I stand corrected on my last post.