Released on August 13, 1999
Saskatoon and Regina Health Districts are gearing up to perform 2,500to 3,000 more sugeries this year in an effort to attack long waiting
lists.
This year's health budget set aside $12 million to address waiting
lists, following the report of the Task Team on Surgical Waiting
Lists. The funding will go primarily to Regina and Saskatoon health
districts, where the vast majority of surgery is performed.
"We are working with districts to increase operating room hours, add
surgical equipment and improve co-ordination so more surgery can be
done," said Health Minister Pat Atkinson.
Since the findings of the task team came out in March, labour
disputes, staff shortages and summer holidays have limited the
progress districts could make. "Now that we've turned the corner on
these issues and the details are being mapped out, we'll soon begin to
see waits for surgery getting shorter," said Associate Minister of
Health Judy Junor.
Gynaecology, orthopaedics and general surgery will be targeted for
priority in district plans. "We are looking at areas where people are
waiting six months or more, particularly where a person's chances for
recovery may be affected by waiting," Atkinson said.
Both districts have already taken steps to improve waiting times
in response to the task team report. Initiatives both districts
have undertaken include:
hiring additional staff to operate a full slate of operating
rooms five days a week;
training nurses in critical care and operating room areas;
identifying priorities in the surgical equipment they need
(such as patient monitoring and anaesthetic equipment) to
maximize the efficient use of operating rooms; and
in Saskatoon, integrating the surgery schedules for College
of Medicine staff into the district-wide booking system to
ensure these patients also share the benefits of system-wide
efficiencies.
District plans will be monitored to ensure waiting times are
improving. Reports will be made public. Data collection is being
improved and the province intends to publish regular progress
reports on waiting times, beginning this fall.
- 30 -
For more information, contact:
Jeff Brown
Communications Branch
Saskatchewan Health
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-4088