The BC government has announced a new Hip and Knee Program to dramatically cut surgical wait times on the South Island.
Provincially -- 30% of people waiting for hip surgery and 38% of people waiting for knee surgery had to wait over 26 weeks in 2016-17. While the wait time on the island was similar, the numbers of patients was 3% higher for those waiting for hip surgery and 5% higher for knee surgeries.
Health Minister Adrian Dix says with new operating room resources, including a new dedicated operating room at Royal Jubilee Hospital, hundreds of new joint replacement surgeries can be done.
About 800 additional joint replacement surgeries will be performed on the South Island in 2018-19, for a total of approximately 2,400 surgeries per year, significantly reducing the number of South Island patients waiting for hip and knee replacements.
The South Island Hip and Knee Program is one of five new hip and knee programs the provincial government is implementing throughout the province as one component of its four-part surgical strategy.