The provincial government is pumping $10 million into the health care system to help some of the patients languishing on surgery wait lists get treatment this year.
Health Minister Terry Lake said people who have already been waiting more than 10 months will be given priority when the funding starts coming in this summer.
Health authorities will aim to perform 1,000 extra surgeries throughout the province between June and August, including orthopedic, hernia, cataract, ear, nose and throat procedures.
“They will be opening up additional OR time and in some cases using private facilities,” Lake said.
Lake said the surgeries performed in private clinics will be paid for publicly.
“We have always used private providers in the health care system,” Lake added. “If the quality is there and it reduces wait lists and is paid for and administered by the public system, I think British Columbians would agree with that approach.”
The one-time funding is only designed as a short-term solution to B.C.’s long wait lists, but the Ministry of Health has tasked the Provincial Surgery Executive Committee with coming up with a long-term plan to deal with the issue.
According to the ministry, wait times are getting worse even though the number of surgeries performed in the province has increased 33 per cent over the last 12 years.
“Health authorities are seeing unprecedented demand,” Lake said. “The reality is that we’re still struggling.”
Part of the problem could be due to an aging population. Lake said the number of hip replacements for 45- to 54-year-olds doubled between 2000 and 2010.
The ministry said a long-term solution could include modernized booking methods that provide surgeons and health authorities with better information on who is waiting and how urgently they need treatment.