SURGERIES UP, WAIT LISTS DOWN IN SASKATCHEWAN

Saskatchewan achieved a significant increase in surgical capacity last year, and a considerable drop in the number of patients waiting for surgery.

Updated data on the Saskatchewan Surgical Care Network (SSCN) website, www.sasksurgery.ca, shows that Regina Qu'Appelle and Saskatoon Health Regions together completed about 2,000 more surgeries in 2005-06. It also indicates that the number of patients waiting for surgery in those regions dropped by nearly 1,600 over the previous year.

The website now includes complete surgical data to the end of March 2006. Health Minister Len Taylor said it provides solid evidence that Saskatchewan's surgical care management strategy is working.

"It is encouraging to see health regions expanding their surgical capacity, and to know that it is making a difference for many patients," Taylor said. "We recognize that some patients still wait too long for surgery, and we will continue to focus resources on this priority area so that all patients receive quality, timely service."

SSCN Co-Chair Dr. Rob Weiler said the number of people waiting more than a year dropped by another 1,500 cases in Regina and Saskatoon, where about three-quarters of surgeries are performed.

"There are indications on many levels that we are making progress, and that all of the work done over the past few years is having a significant effect. We will continue to fine-tune and improve our management of Saskatchewan's surgical care system, and our patients will reap the benefits of that work," Weiler said.

The website provides a range of surgical care information including wait time and wait list data, and physician location and specialty. It shows that once seen by the specialist who will do their procedures, half of all patients wait less than five weeks for their procedures, and more than 80 per cent wait less than six months.

The website's data is based on a province-wide Surgical Patient Registry, a comprehensive database that contains information on every patient waiting for surgery and their level of urgency.

In 2006-07, Saskatchewan is investing $8.9 million of targeted federal funding to make surgical system improvements and reduce the number of patients who wait longer.

Saskatchewan is currently working on its plan to achieve national wait time benchmarks, a commitment made by all provinces and territories following Ottawa's 10-year health funding commitment in 2004.

-30-

For More Information, Contact:

Joan Petrie Health Regina Phone: (306) 787-7802