Released on March 18, 2013
Saskatchewan people are receiving timelier access to surgical services. With just over a year to go for the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative, the health system continues to make progress toward sooner, safer, smarter surgery for patients.
Provincial wait times data updated to January 31, 2013 shows that 97 per cent of Saskatchewan people needing elective surgery receive their surgery within 12 months, 90 per cent within six months and 78 per cent within three months.
“Health regions and surgical teams have made incredible progress in streamlining processes and making surgeries safer,” Health Minister Dustin Duncan said. “Patients are spending much less time waiting for surgery. There are now 61 per cent fewer people waiting more than six months for surgery than in 2007. In fact, there were more patients waiting more than 12 months for surgery in 2007 than currently wait more than six months.”
The target this year in Saskatchewan is to offer patients surgery within six months. The ultimate goal is to offer surgery within three months by April 2014.
Most health regions are making good progress toward that goal, but setbacks experienced by Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region indicate it likely won’t meet the three-month target on schedule. However, the health region made progress in January, reducing the number of patients waiting more than six months by 200.
More information about the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative can be found at www.health.gov.sk.ca/surgical-initiative. Wait time data and other information for patients is available at www.sasksurgery.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Tyler McMurchy
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083