The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority said it has been operating without a full complement of anesthesiologists for more than a year, leading to the cancellation of time slots for surgeries.
It said emergency surgery wait lists have been unaffected and urgent surgery needs are being met.
The WRHA said the lack of availability of an anesthesiologist contributed to the cancellation of 2.5 per cent of all time slots, known as surgical slates, this spring. It said in the vast majority of cases, the slots were dropped before patients were booked into them.
The WRHA said the shortage is due to multiple factors, including retirements and moves, and it is attempting to recruit.
It said 100 full-time anesthesiologists are needed to cover existing demand, and while the health authority employs 120, some only work part time.
The union representing Manitoba nurses said those in the profession have been concerned about the shortage for some time, in other Manitoba health regions as well.
President of the Manitoba Nurses Union Darlene Jackson said even if a surgery is elective, waiting can impact a patient.
"If the wait becomes longer, if you're elective, so your surgery doesn’t happen as quickly or as timely as it could, and that certainly is an issue for the patients when it comes to quality of life or planning their lives,” she said.
“If you're planning a surgery you're just a little more unsure of when that is going to happen."
Jackson said she’s aware of attempts to hire more anesthesiologists in some health regions, but the bodies just aren’t there.
Health Minister Cameron Friesen said in a statement that he expects to be briefed formally on the situation next week, but understands there are “more vacancies than normal at this time and work is underway to recruit more anesthesiologists.”
