B.C. now aiming to clear surgery backlog in 15 months, rather than 2 years

More than half of the patients who had their surgeriespostponed under pandemic restrictions have now successfully undergone their procedures, the province said Tuesday.

Fifty-two per cent of the patients who missed their surgeries in the spring had the procedures completed between May 18 and June 25, Health Minister Adrian Dix said during a news conference.

"Given the period we were starting from, [that's an] extraordinary accomplishment," Dix said.

More than 32,400 people either had their surgeries postponed or not scheduled at all after non-essential procedures were cancelled on March 16, in order tofree up hospital beds in case there was a rush of COVID-19 patients.

Those patients left waiting either joined or remained on a pre-existing wait-list, bringing the total number of peoplewaiting for surgery in B.C. to 93,000.

Surgeries resumed on May 18, the day before B.C. entered Phase 2 of its pandemic response plan.

Backlog could be addressed in 15 months: ministry

That month, Dix said it could take up to two years to address the backlog procedures postponed or not scheduled at all during the peak of restrictions to address thepandemic.

The province said Tuesday it now believes the backlog canbe cleared in 15 months, after the ministry tooksteps to increase operating "efficiency."

The province said overall wait times for surgery rose 26 per centfrom mid-March to mid-May. More urgent surgeries are being prioritized, particularly for those who have already been waiting two times longer than normal.

A five-step plan released May 7said the government intends to hire more staff such as surgeons, nurses andanesthesiologists, including every one of the 1,550 nurses graduatingfrom nursing school in B.C. this year, to help work through the backlog.

Dix said Tuesday that work is underway, with $815,000 set aside since May for recruitment.

Officials also plantoexpedite training, open new and unused spaces, turn to private clinics and ask surgeons to work longer hours over the next four months including on weekends and through the summer.

A statement said the province lost more than 14,505 operating hours in 2019 due to the"summer slowdown" caused by staff vacation and reduced hours. Dix said Tuesday the slowdown expected this summer has been reduced by 52 per cent by managing employees' vacations.