Surgical wait times decline

The latest provincial wait time numbers show continued progress toward Saskatchewan's goal of offering all surgical patients a procedure within three months.

"There are now about 9,100 fewer patients waiting more than three months for surgery, than when we began the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative in April 2010," Health Minister Dustin Duncan said. "People in this province are spending less time waiting for surgery and more time getting on with their lives."

Surgical teams across the province are on track to make a dent in surgical patient wait lists, despite a traditional slowdown in surgeries that takes place each summer.

The latest surgical wait time information shows 78 per cent of patients are receiving surgery within three months of their consultation and 90 per cent within six months.

Since 2007, the number of all patients waiting more than three months for surgery has fallen 59 per cent from 15,357 to 6,234 as of May 31. The reduction since April 2010 is also 59 per cent, down from 15,342.

All regions except Regina Qu'Appelle are on track to meet the three-month goal by April 2014. Regina Qu'Appelle is expected to meet the goal by April 2015.