Province unveils plan to address 30,000 surgeries cancelled due to COVID-19

-With files from Catherine Garrett, MyPGNow

Health Authorities across the province reported a 30% decrease in productivity during COVID-19.

This loss of productivity means up to May 18th, an estimated 30,000 elective surgeries have been cancelled or postponed.

“That’s 30,000 people that have to endure pain and suffering as we have worked together to address COVID-19,” Premier John Horgan stated.

A further 24,000 cases have not been added to the waitlist due to slowdown in surgeon referrals.

A five-step plan was unveiled today (May 7) to address the growing list of cancelled procedures.

Health Minister Adrian Dix estimates the backlog to be cleared in the next 17-24 months.

The first step will increase surgeries through extended operating hours, weekend operations, and the potential opening of new operating rooms.

B.C. residents can expect to see an increase in essential personal through step 2, while step 3 focuses on urgent patients and patients who have had postponed surgeries.

The fourth step will add more resources to the healthcare system, including additional funding.

Finally, step 5 is centred around transparency to the general public, with ongoing result reporting.

“We will do this in the safest way possible for patients and providers,” said Minister of Health Adrian Dix

“We’re going to throw everything we have at this issue because the people who sacrificed and had their surgeries delayed… I think those people deserve that,” Dix added.

Patient outreach will begin today (May 7) and surgeries will begin as early as May 18.

Meanwhile, all facilities are expected to be at full capacity by June 15, and capacity will be steadily increased through till October 15.

Recruitment of new staff will begin in June, as Dix estimates a need for about 400 additional nurses.

In Northern Health, 671 elective surgeries were cancelled between March 16th and May 3rd, while 1,010 urgent surgeries were completed during the same stretch of time.

This is over a 39% drop in operating room productivity for the health authority.