Saskatchewan Health Minister Don McMorris made an announcement this morning in Regina. He spoke about a plan to shorten surgical wait times and improve the experience of surgical patients in Saskatchewan. The announcement was in response to the Patient First Review that was launched last year. As a result of the findings, the Government of Saskatchewan is committed to achieving a maximum wait time of three months for elective surgeries that will be achieved within four years.
The year, the provincial government will provide $10.5 million in funding for the surgical plan with will support 3,000 additional surgeries, 2,500 additional CT scans and renovations to operating rooms and post-operative bed capacity.
"It has been energizing and encouraging to watch the health system come together for the sake of patients and families," McMorris said. "We have set ambitious goals, not only to achieve short wait times, but to make fundamental improvements to surgical care from the patient's first visit to a family doctor to their rehabilitation and recovery. I'm please to say we're already making progress."
Some of the 25 initiatives will be a surgical website for patients, using surgical checklists in operation rooms and working to reduce preventable surgical site infections.
Patient Adviser Dan Stroman said patient input has been an integral part of the surgical plan's development.
"The patient advisers were asked to ensure the patient's perspective wasn;t forgotten as ideas were exchanged and plans made," Stroman said. "We've been speaking up and we're being heard."
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