There was more good news from the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative Sept. 24.
Based on a six-month study that ended July 31, seven out of 10 Saskatchewan health regions handling operating-room surgeries are offering surgeries within six months to all people who need it.
The numbers signal a drop of 82 per cent in the number of patients waiting more than a year for surgery since 2007. The number of patients waiting more than six months since the 2007 has dropped 58 per cent.
Broken down by region, Heartland Health Region has all surgeries performed within six months. Sun Country, Prairie North, Five Hills, Cypress and Sunrise health regions, all have 97 per cent or more patients receiving surgery within six months. In Prince Albert Parkland, it is 95 per cent, and it is 90 per cent for Kelsey Trail and Saskatoon health regions.
The Regina Qu'Appelle region had the poorest performance, with only 81 per cent of patients receiving surgery within six months, a number the Saskatchewan Government press release partially attributed to a spike in planned orthopedic surgeries.
In general, 2,233 fewer patients are waiting for surgery in Saskatchewan July 31, 2012 than were one year previous, a nine per cent reduction. The longest wait times for non-emergency surgery occur in orthopedics, dental surgery, neurosurgery, opthamology and otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat).
"The collaboration of thousands of health care providers involved in the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative has moved us closer to reaching this year's goal," explained Health Minister Dustin Duncan. "We owe it to patients to work hard over the last half of the fiscal year and meet our surgical wait time goals."
For more information about the Saskatchewan Surgical initiative, visit www.sasksurgery.ca, or www.health.gov.sk.ca/surgical-initiative.
