The Manitoba government has provided patients with more than 72,300 additional diagnostic and surgical procedures, ensuring more Manitobans are getting care faster with increased capacity in a stronger, more resilient public health system.
“Our government is healing health care and focusing on increasing capacity in the public system right here in Manitoba,” said Health Minister Audrey Gordon. “The Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force (DSRTF) continues to make important strides in immediate and long-term needs that build capacity for the future of the health-care system. We are listening to front-line health-care workers and implementing solutions directly from their recommendations and proposals to get Manitobans the care they need.”
More than 72,300 total procedures have been funded through the DSRTF, including 43,600 in the public system and recently announced hip and knee surgeries that have exceeded targets across most of the province. More than 28,200 procedures have been completed in Manitoba by contracted health-service providers. Another 478 procedures, less than 0.01 per cent of total cases, were completed outside the province.
“Today’s progress update is proof the approach is working as thousands of Manitobans are no longer waiting for the surgical and diagnostic care they need,” said Dr. Peter MacDonald, chair, DSRTF steering committee. “Initiatives approved by the task force are enabling us to achieve progress as quickly as possible. The task force is also fully engaged with Shared Health to ensure Manitoba has a resilient and self-reliant health system.”
Additionally, the task force has eliminated the pandemic backlog for seven more procedures including:
- cardiac electrophysiology,
- MRI,
- pediatric sleep,
- myocardial perfusion,
- transplant,
- adult allergy, and
- orthopedic spine.
“The work of the task force has been an important tool as Manitoba’s health system makes every effort to deliver services to Manitobans in a timely manner,” said Dr. Ed Buchel, surgical lead, DSRTF steering committee. “Our work is closely integrated with the clinical and operational priorities of the health system to ensure that task force investments align with the implementation of initiatives at both the provincial and the local level. This includes a great deal of collaboration with clinical leaders from across the province and Shared Health, the organization responsible for planning and co-ordinating health services to improve access and reliability, enhance equity, and build up quality of care for all Manitobans.”
The Manitoba government established the DSRTF in late 2021 to address waitlists for diagnostic and surgical procedures, and other related services affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Supported by experts from across Canada, the team of respected local health-care professionals identify and implement short- and long-term solutions to improve surgical and diagnostic waitlists and make overall lasting improvements to Manitoba’s health-care system.
