Skip to main content

Operating a health care system with long waits for hip, knee and cataract surgeries is not optimal

On Tuesday May 10, I asked, in Question period, about the long wait times for hip, knee and cataract surgery.  It is clearly not optimum to run a health care system like this because the surgery has to be done and it is better for the patient and less costly for the system if it is done in a timely fashion rather than have the long wait times which are present now, and which were present going back to the years when the NDP were in government.

Hip, Knee and Cataract Surgery
Wait Times in Manitoba

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, the optimum way to run a health-care system to achieve the best care for Manitobans and the lowest cost to the Province is to have short wait times for critical procedures like hip, knee re­place­ments, cata­racts, cardiac surgeries.

      Surgeries need to be done. But when there is a delay instead of a quick turnaround, the health issue gets worse, the pain and suffering is greater and it costs more to fix the health issue. Manitoba is near the worst in Canada in this respect, as CIHI reports today.

      Why has this gov­ern­ment, both pre-pandemic and now–and the gov­ern­ment before it–been operating Manitoba's health-care system with long delays in the worst way for Manitobans who need care, and in the most expensive way?

 

Hon. Audrey Gordon (Minister of Health): I thank the member for River Heights for the question.

      Wait times and our surgical and diag­nos­tic backlog is a very im­por­tant issue for this gov­ern­ment. It's also a priority for our gov­ern­ment. That is why in Budget 2022, Madam Speaker, we are investing $110 million to address the backlog, to reduce those numbers.

      And it's not just about the numbers. Behind every number is a person, and so we want to ensure that every Manitoban knows that this gov­ern­ment realizes that they are in need of their surgical procedures and their diagnostics, and we are taking action through our Diag­nos­tic and Surgical Recovery Task Force.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Being able to participate matters - Let’s build a more inclusive, accessible Manitoba

Too often, our homes, buildings, and outdoor spaces are designed without sufficient consideration given to how they will impact little people, those with large bodies, or those with disabilities.  Manitoba should become a leader in designing and building new structures so they’re comfortable and accessible to all.  Further, the province needs to do more to adapt our existing infrastructure, so that it meets everyone’s needs.   The design of our built environment makes daily living a challenge for too many.  A friend, who uses a wheelchair, must call ahead wherever she goes to ensure she can enter a restaurant, store, salon, etc. A young person in River Heights has a struggle each fall to make sure that with his cerebral palsy he is able to get the support he needs to do well in school.  A large-bodied man I know has been bedridden for five months because he lacks access to a usable lift or wheelchair.  Samantha Trubyk, President of the Little People ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Comparison between Manitoba and South Dakota shows dramatic impact of Physical Distancing

Manitoba implemented physical distancing measures in mid-March.  South Dakota has still not made physical distancing mandatory.   The result is a dramatic difference in the incidence of covid-19 viral infections between the two jurisdictions.   This graph shows the number of people with Covid-19 infections from March 27 to April 14.  Manitoba ( red line )  started leveling off about April 4 and has seen only a small increase in Covid-19 infections since then.   South Dakota ( blue line )   has seen a dramatic increase in Covid-19 infections since April 4.  Those who are skeptical of the impact of physical distancing in Manitoba should look at this graph! Data are from the Johns Hopkins daily tabulations
18 comments
Read more

Debating the importance of the french language, education in french and french services in Manitoba

Thursday, May 17, we had a debate on a resolution on french language education and french language services in the Manitoba.   The debate arose because the Pallister government has made major cutbacks in french language education.  In part these cuts have reduced the status and funding for   le Bureau de l'éducation française which is the division of the Department of Education which deals with education in french.   Several items are notable:  The Pallister Conservatives block a motion to have the normal full hour of debate.   Hon. Jon  Gerrard  (River Heights):  I have a question. Before I ask it, this is a pretty important subject and I'd like to have leave to make sure that we have a full hour of debate, and so the debate would go 'til about 12:15. Mr. Deputy Speaker:  Has there been leave to go to 12:15? An Honourable Member:  Agreed. An Honourable Member:  No. Mr. Deputy Speaker:  N...
6 comments
Read more