'Clearly, the system in Manitoba is broken': More Manitobans going elsewhere for surgeries
The surgery backlog in Manitoba doesn't seem like it will come to an end anytime soon and, in the meantime, people who are waiting in pain are looking elsewhere to get procedures done.
Guy Martin developed a hernia while he was getting water this past spring at his cabin north of Kenora.
"Two, five gallon pails of water, that's 90 pounds. But I guess I must've twisted somehow when I pulled it out of the water. Anyways that's all history now," said Martin.
He had his hernia surgery in October at a private clinic in Toronto. He said he made the decision to do it after eight months of waiting for a surgery date in Manitoba.
"I've heard stories of it being up to a year or more, so I thought I can't go through this for another year and making it to a year and a half or whatever it might be, so I flew to Toronto."
Doctors Manitoba says the province's surgical and diagnostic procedure backlog is around 136,000, with hundreds more being added every week.
A spokesperson for Shared Health said, "At present, we are seeing a reduction in the number of surgical slates occurring at a number of Manitoba hospitals. We can expect these effects to continue while COVID-19 demands on our ICUs remain high.".
Ken Hiebert is a liason for an orthopedic surgical centre in Germany and he said this backlog has increased business.
Hiebert said he usually sends 10 people to the clinic a month but in November it is already at 18.
"The backlog we have in surgery in Manitoba for those going to Germany to have this surgery will actually even help those that are on the long waiting list," said Hiebert.
Martin encourages people to look elsewhere for surgery if they can afford it.
"Clearly, the system in Manitoba is broken," said Martin.
He added that he paid $7,500 plus flights and hotel rooms for his surgery and he has sent the bill to the province's health minister.
"I asked for a reimbursement. I'll see what happens."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.