Listen Live
Listen Live
Listen Live

BC’s Orthopaedic Association says surgery waitlists have ballooned

(With files by Brody Langager-MyPGNow)

A formal letter has been penned to Minister of Health Adrian Dix to have a discussion about the postponements of surgeries seen in orthopaedic healthcare.

Dr. Cassandra Lane Dielwart is the President-Elect for the British Columbia Orthopaedic Association, and said the pandemic has caused many surgeries to be put on hold.

“With the pandemic, it’s been obviously hard on all aspects of healthcare. In orthopaedic specifically, it’s led to a lot of surgery cancellations and postponements.”

In the letter to Dix, it was noted that a Prince George surgeon whose waitlist sat around 80 to 90 patients pre-pandemic, has had that number almost triple.

The letter also stated that there were 1,200 patients currently on the orthopaedic surgery waitlist in Kelowna, with many of them having waited over 52 weeks.

Dielwart said her surgical specialty is often seen as elective, but notes that it’s still very important for patients.

“Not all surgeries have been created equal unfortunately during the pandemic, and orthopaedics is not a live saving operation, it’s not a cancer operation, it’s life transforming though. It takes patients from a constant state of pain to being functional again.”

She added that Dix’s comments about surgeries being back to normal numbers within the province is only hurting her patients more.

“The problem as we see it as an association, is it’s giving some false hope. With this announcement that surgeries are back on track, our offices are getting more calls than ever asking when surgeries are going to be.”

Something going on in the Cariboo you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].

Continue Reading

ckbx Now playing play

cffm Now playing play

ckcq Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

2 vehicle collision on Highway 97 at Horse Lake Road sent 1 person to hospital

One person was taken to hospital following a two vehicle collision in the South Cariboo.

B.C. jobs minister says Trump’s film tariff threat too early to call

British Columbia’s Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon said it’s too early to tell if Donald Trump’s latest tariff threat against the film industry is legitimate. 

Eby welcomes federal decision to label Bishnoi gang as terrorists

Premier David Eby said listing the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist group is “the right move.”

One person arrested during a vehicle stop in the South Cariboo

An early morning patrol of the 100 Mile House downtown area led to an arrest.

Check your tread: B.C.’s winter tire rules kick in Wednesday

Ready or not, winter tire season starts this week in British Columbia this Wednesday.
- Advertisement -