A Strategy to Reduce Orthopaedic and Ophthalmology Waits in BC

This document was drafted in response to a meeting between the British Columbia Nurses Union (BCNU) and the Premier of British Columbia. At that time, the Premier requested further input from the BCNU on how the province could reduce surgical wait lists by expanding the use of operating rooms in public hospitals. Recognizing that wait lists are a critical issue for BC’s physicians as well, the BCNU and the Doctors of BC worked collaboratively to draft this document and present a collective strategy for reducing excessive orthopaedic and ophthalmology waits.

The BCNU and the Doctors of BC recommended that:

1. The provincial government provide 5 years of targeted funding to maximize unused operating room capacity in public hospitals to reduce waits for medically necessary surgery in BC, focusing initially on orthopaedic and ophthalmology wait times. Building upon the success in these areas, additional areas of concern should be addressed, e.g. cardiac waits.
2. Recommendations regarding wait time funding be made by the joint BC Waitlist Reduction Steering Committee (WLRC) comprised of equal representation from the BCNU, Doctors of BC, Ministry of Health, and Regional Health Authorities. These recommendations would include where and how to mobilize unused operating room capacity.
3. The WLRC monitor the progress of initiatives undertaken by regional health authorities to ensure that wait times be reduced to medically reasonable levels within the next 5 years.

For the full policy paper, please see “A Strategy to Reduce Orthopaedic and Ophthalmology Waits in BC”.