NEW SURGICAL INFORMATION AVAILABLE

Saskatchewan residents now have access to more detailed information on surgical wait times.

The Saskatchewan Surgical Care Network (SSCN) has published new cancer surgery data on its website at www.sasksurgery.ca, along with updated surgical data and details about Saskatchewan's progress meeting wait-time benchmarks.

"We are committed to accountability and transparency in our health system," Health Minister Don McMorris said. "More complete information such as this will support our efforts to improve access to surgery and cancer care for Saskatchewan patients."

Cancer surgery data continues to be included in total reported surgical cases posted on the website, as well as now being provided separately. McMorris said the goal is to provide clear, understandable information about the surgical aspect of cancer care, which is provided by health regions.

Radiation therapy and chemotherapy wait-times are not included on the SSCN website because those services are not provided by health regions. However, the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency now makes radiation therapy wait-time data available on its website at www.saskcancer.ca and plans to provide chemotherapy data in the future.

For the first time, the SSCN website also explains Saskatchewan's status in relation to pan-Canadian surgery wait-time benchmarks set in 2005 in priority areas: cardiac bypass surgery, hip and knee replacement, hip fracture repair and high risk cataract surgery. In Saskatchewan, cardiac benchmarks are already being met; joint replacements pose the greatest challenge.

Information is also provided on regional health authority progress meeting provincial target time frames for all surgeries.

The website data, which has been updated to June 30, 2008, shows that Saskatchewan's surgical wait list is about 700 cases shorter than on March 31. It also indicates that from April to June, more than 20,100 surgeries were performed in hospital operating rooms - almost 1,100 more than during the same period a year earlier.

McMorris added that work continues on longer-term strategies to build the health workforce, support front-line care and put patients first - efforts that will have a positive effect on surgical system performance.

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For more information, contact:

Karen Hill
Health
Regina
Phone: 306-787-4083