Data showed that 205,549 postponements were reported by nine provinces between March and May or June. The Ontario government indicated it had “no records,” so the report used an estimate put out by the CMAJ of 184,364 surgeries postponed in the province as a result of COVID-19 between mid-March and mid-June, 2020. The report did not have data for the territories.
A breakdown comparison of the figures is difficult since the information released, which is posted on SecondStreet.org, varied from province to province. Most data appeared to be specifically for surgeries, though some also included imaging exams, for example. Some provinces gave detailed reports including what types of surgeries were delayed, while others only shared overall estimated figures. Since the backlog began, a number of provinces have been working to move forward on procedures.
In B.C. for example, non-urgent, scheduled surgeries that were completed fell a dramatic 45 per cent, with dental, hip and knee replacements the most common non-urgent procedures that were most impacted during this period, the province told SecondStreet.org. Despite the early backlog, B.C.’s government announced in January that nearly all surgeries postponed during the province’s first wave had been completed.
Manitoba, which reported 8,391 procedures that were deferred during that period, announced at the start of this year that it would ramp up surgical capacity to address the issue.
Meanwhile, Ontario Health replied to SecondStreet.org’s request that a “search was conducted in Ontario Health on behalf of the Ministry’s Hospitals and Capital Division and no records were located in response to this request.” It explained that an accurate picture of surgical postponements due to COVID-19 was difficult for a number of reasons and that the province’s wait-time system only captures data of surgeries that have occurred. Last fall, the Ontario government announced a $741 million investment to help build more capacity within the province’s health-care system and clear the waiting list.
The Canadian Medical Association has previously said that it would take more than $1.3 billion to clear the health-care backlog caused by the first wave.
“There are no doubts that the impact of the pandemic will be felt for years to come. But for many Canadians, it could become a serious quality of life issue as they wait for their procedures,” CMA President Dr. Ann Collins said in a statement in October.
SecondStreet is advocating for private, for profit clinics to pick up the slack. I'm not interested in their perspective on that. My only interest lies in the number of people who had their procedures unnecessarily postponed. Including a close member of my own family, until it became "urgent".