Wait times are reportedly on the decline but as the new year unfolds it's clear more work will need to be done to continue improvements in the health care sector to ensure all have access to quality and timely care.
The province says Saskatchewan health regions and health care providers are continuing to work hard to meet the demand for surgery. In the first seven months of the fiscal year, patients in Saskatchewan received 50,904 surgeries, an increase of 3,690 from the same period last year.
The latest provincial wait time numbers show that, as of October 31, 2013, 79 per cent of patients were offered surgery within three months and 92 per cent within six months.
Health Minister Dustin Duncan admits, "Increased demand for surgeries in Saskatoon and Regina has presented challenges..."
Statistics indicate there has been a 65 per cent drop in the number of patients waiting more than three months for surgery since March 2010 and this is a trend we need to see continue throughout the province and not just in our larger centres.
As 2014 approaches the road is paved for progress. We need to continue efforts in spite of progress to keep the ball rolling in the right direction.
