“We’re not meeting the standard of care”: BC Orthopaedic surgeons call for health ministry meeting to address growing waitlist

KAMLOOPS — The BC Orthopaedic Association has released a letter this week requesting a meeting with Health Minister Adrian Dix to discuss the state of orthopaedic surgery wait times in the province.

Minister Dix told a recent news conference that nearly all patients whose surgeries were postponed in the first three waves on the pandemic have since had their procedures. However, the Orthopaedic Association says that’s not the reality they’re working in.

Dr. Scott Hughes in Kamloops is one of many orthopaedic surgeons around the province who are hoping the letter will result in positive changes to their growing wait lists.

“The only reason we’re reaching out, the only reason we’re writing letters is for the care of our patients, and no other reason,” Dr. Hughes explains. “We feel the care should be appropriate, and right now, we’re not meeting the standard of care.”

According to the association, orthopaedics in Kamloops has lost around 1,200 hours of operating time since April of 2021 — which translates to roughly 600 patients who haven’t had a chance to get their surgery yet.

“There’s nearly a 40 per cent increase in the orthopaedic wait list here at the Royal Inland Hospital over the course of the past two years,” notes Dr. Hughes. “We know that the average wait time for surgery has almost exactly doubled. It’s gone from 14 weeks to just over 28 weeks for an average surgery.”

The province has said pandemic-postponed surgeries have largely been caught up with, but the Orthopaedic Association’s incoming president, Dr. Cassandra Lane Dielwart, says that data doesn’t tell the whole story.

“Those were patients who were cancelled off of a list,” says Dr. Dielwart, “but for example in orthopaedics we get booking days and the booking office will then fill those days. But if you were never given those days because of the OR shutdowns, all those patients who would have been operated on will not show up on any data point.”

While orthopaedic procedures are categorized as ‘elective’, or ‘non-urgent’, Dr. Dielwart says they are life-transforming. Having heard from patients who are waiting in pain, have lost mobility and independence, suffered from depression, job loss and have become dependent on narcotics to try and manage their pain.

“If you’ve ever had a headache, it ruins your day. If Tylenol doesn’t get rid of your pain, it ruins your day. Imagine being in pain like that all day, every day, for a year,” she explains. “Sometimes more, to get your joint replaced.”

There’s no single solution, but the association says if action isn’t taken now to start forming a plan, the problem will continue to inflate.

“We’re going to have to work at over capacity for a long time to catch up from what we’ve lost,” stresses Dr. Dielwart.

In Kamloops, Dr. Hughes says local level health officials have recognized the issue, but wants to see that recognition expand to seniors levels of Interior Health and the health ministry. He also feels additional funding for departments, and a focus on staff recruitment and retention could help.

“We know that one small stressor to our system all of a sudden overloads our system to the point of being unable to perform surgeries. And that unfortunately is not acceptable for the citizens of our city.”

Dr. Dielwart adds that since sending the letter, she and the association have not heard back from Minister Dix about setting up a meeting and hopes the health ministry will reach out soon.

Meantime, while speaking in Kamloops Thursday (Mar. 24), Health Minister Adrian Dix says he’s aware of the letter sent to his office by the Orthopaedic Association.

In response, Dix says the province has implemented 80 different measures to improve surgical volume and efficiency since the start of the pandemic. Adding that those measures came from recommendations from surgeons and communities.

“When people say well will we be better than 80, 81? I’m sympathetic to that view, and we can do more. But I think in the area of orthopaedics in general we have never seen this kind of investment, effort and indeed reduction of wait times.”

The minister admits the challenges within Interior Health have been higher compared to other regions recently. But he says the province is proceeding with a surgical renewal plan and is open to meeting with groups about what else can be done.