Saskatchewan health regions continue to make progress toward this year's target that by March 31, 2013 all Saskatchewan patients will have the choice of undergoing surgery within six months.
The most current wait time information shows that as of April 30, 2012, the number of patients waiting more than six months for surgery was 4,663, down 56 per cent since November 2007, and 53 per cent since the start of the Surgical Initiative in April 2010. The number of Saskatchewan patients waiting more than a year for surgery has dropped 82 per cent since November 2007.
For the six-month period from November 1, 2011 to April 30, 2012, provincial statistics show that 89 per cent of all patients who had surgery received it within six months and 97 per cent received their procedure within one year. The percentages include emergency cases, which typically are performed far sooner than elective surgeries.
"There is a tremendous collaborative effort under way in Saskatchewan to provide access to surgery sooner, safer and smarter," Health Minister Dustin Duncan said. "This is a priority for our government, our health regions and our health care providers."
The overall goal of the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative is to improve surgical patients' experiences and to provide all patients with the option of having surgery within three months by March 31, 2014.
During the 2012-13 fiscal year, Saskatchewan health regions will provide almost 6,860 additional surgeries to patients and will undertake numerous innovations that improve surgical care. This figure includes a higher volume target in Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region, which recently revised its surgical plan for the coming year.
More information about the Surgical Initiative can be found at www.health.gov.sk.ca/surgical-initiative. Wait time data is available at www.sasksurgery.ca.
