Province announces plan to clear backlog of elective surgeries

Surgeries that were postponed due to the COVID pandemic are starting back up as part of a massive surgical renewal plan.

About 30,000 non-essential surgeries have been postponed since mid-March to make sure hospital space was available for the outbreak.

“British Columbians have stepped up to the challenge of COVID-19 by making sacrifices, including thousands of people who have waited for postponed elective surgeries. This has been very difficult for people and their families,” said Premier John Horgan. “But these sacrifices have helped flatten the curve in B.C., and now we can move forward, safely, getting people the surgeries they’ve been waiting for.”

Health Minister Adrian Dix says beginning this month, the province will launch an extensive surgical renewal plan that will include calling patients, adding new capacity, and hiring and training staff.

Dix says they hope to clear the existing backlog in the next 17 to 24 months.

“From May 7 to 15, we’ll be contacting all patients who have had surgeries postponed; May 18: starting non-urgent surgeries up again; May 31: contracting private facilities to work at maximum capacity; in June, training, recruiting and hiring more staff; and by June 15: running all existing operating rooms at full capacity,” said Dix.

Dix said from June to October, all surgical locations would extend operating hours, adding weekend and more operating rooms, and all dependent on avoiding a resurgence of Covid-19.

The first year of the plan will cost $250 million, and includes hiring additional staff, expanding hours, opening new and unused spaces, and using private clinics.

Dix said they hope to hire 400 more nurses, adding they hope to hire all the graduating nurses this year.

The province also intends to hire more anesthesiologists, surgeons, medical officer assistants and cleaning staff.