Doctors Manitoba says surgical, diagnostic backlog in province has grown to 152,000 cases
Doctors Manitoba is estimating that the province’s surgical and diagnostic backlog has grown to 152,000 cases.
In a news release issued on Tuesday, the organization said this is an increase of 6,675 compared to last month’s estimate. It said the backlog includes:
- 56,181 surgeries, which is up 2,376 over last month;
- 42,931 diagnostic imaging procedures, an increase of 3,230 compared to last month; and
- 53,004 other diagnostic procedures, which include allergy tests, endoscopies, mammograms, and sleep disorder studies. This is an increase of 1,069 cases over last month.
Dr. Kristjan Thompson, president of Doctors Manitoba, said last month the backlog grew by more than 100 cases or tests a day.
“Physicians continue to be very concerned, especially as we see cardiac surgeries cancelled due to the strain on our healthcare system from the fourth wave,” he said.
”Making these patients wait and delaying their definitive care suggests that our health system is again at a tipping point."
Doctors Manitoba noted that across the entire pandemic, there have been 208 fewer cardiac surgeries performed compared to regular pre-pandemic volumes.
WHAT IS DRIVING THE BACKLOG INCREASE?
According to the organization, the increase in the backlog of diagnostic imaging tests is largely driven by the addition of bone density tests, which have faced disruptions in the pandemic.
These procedures have decreased as a result of the pandemic response, but were not previously included in backlog estimates.
Doctors Manitoba used publicly reported data to estimate that there have been 3,708 fewer bone density tests conducted in the pandemic.
"In essence, bone density tests measure the strength of your bones, which is vital to diagnose osteoporosis," Thompson said.
"These tests help physicians offer medical advice and potential treatments that can help prevent fractures and other health issues."
PROVINCIAL TASK FORCE
Thompson said the government needs to act on Doctors Manitoba’s surgical and diagnostic recovery recommendations, which includes creating a task force to address the backlog.
Last week, Health Minister Audrey Gordon said the province will soon announce a special committee that will deal with the backlog.
"Physicians are looking forward to the government's announcement about their plan to address the staggering surgical and diagnostic backlog in our province," Thompson said.
"This backlog is such a massive issue that a task force charged with addressing it must be action-oriented, with a clear mandate, requisite authority, and members that possess the right expertise and experience. We will be watching closely for the task force's membership and mandate, and we are hoping to also hear a commitment to monthly reporting and to set a target date to clear this backlog. Patients need hope, and they need to know that help is on the way."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Legendary hockey broadcaster Bob Cole dies at 90: CBC
Bob Cole, a welcome voice for Canadian hockey fans for a half-century, has died at the age of 90. Cole died Wednesday night in St. John's, N.L., surrounded by his family, his daughter, Megan Cole, told the CBC.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction overturned by N.Y. appeals court
New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Harvey Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction, reversing a landmark ruling of the #MeToo era in determining the trial judge improperly allowed women to testify about allegations against the ex-movie mogul that weren't part of the case.
2 teens charged in Halifax homicide: police
Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree murder in connection to an alleged homicide near the Halifax Shopping Centre earlier this week.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment that is banned at Queen’s Park.
12-year-old hippo in Japan raised as a male discovered to be a female
When Gen-chan arrived at a zoo in Japan in 2017, no one questioned whether the then-five-year-old hippopotamus was a boy. Seven years later, zoo staff made a surprising discovery: Gen-chan, now 12, was female.
Honda to get up to $5B in govt help for EV battery, assembly plants
Honda is set to build an electric vehicle battery plant next to its Alliston, Ont., assembly plant, which it is retooling to produce fully electric vehicles, all part of a $15-billion project that is expected to include up to $5 billion in public money.
'Deep ignorance': Calls for Manitoba trustee to resign sparked after comments about Indigenous people and reconciliation
A rural Manitoba school trustee is facing calls to resign over comments he made about Indigenous people and residential schools earlier this week.
CTE: Researchers believe widespread brain injury may contribute to veteran suicide rate
Researchers are working to better understand if some Canadian military veterans may be suffering from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, also known as CTE -- a disorder previously found in the brains of professional football and hockey players after their death.
1 arrested in northern Alberta during public shelter order
Residents of John D'Or Prairie, a community on the Little Red River Cree Nation in northern Alberta, were told to take shelter Thursday morning during a police operation.