Huge victory - BCs new strategy for reducing
- Details
- Published on Sunday, 29 November -0001 16:00
- Written by editor
Dear Paov --
Your work to get action on long surgical wait times just paid off in a big way!
We just
got back from an event with the Premier and Health Minister at
Vancouver General Hospital and we’re excited to share with you
the details of the province’s new strategy to tackle surgical wait
times.
The strategy announced today will mean that thousands of people in B.C. will get the surgery they need faster. The plan implements many of the BCHC’s recommendations to modernize our surgical system. [1]
At the announcement, the health minister acknowledged you - BC Health Coalition members - for your tireless work championing innovative solutions... to wait times that contributed to the province’s new strategy.
This is not just a quick fix. The strategy is a comprehensive plan that integrates many of the evidence-based, patient-focused measures we have been calling for over the years.
Now, NDP MLAs and representatives in government need to hear from you about why you support today’s surgical strategy.
If thousands of people message their NDP MLAs and representatives in the BC government celebrating today’s announcement, elected officials will have the support they need to continue to make bold systemic changes to reduce wait times and improve public health care in B.C.
Click here to send a message to your NDP MLA and let them know you support the BC government’s plan to reduce surgical wait times.
The provincial surgical strategy includes:
- Funding for 4,000 more hip and knee surgeries this year. Ongoing targeted funding of $75 million starting in 2018-2019 and increasing to $100 million in 2019-2020.
- Five specialized hip and knee replacement programs throughout the province designed to support increased surgical volumes, reduce wait times, and improve continuity of care for patients.
- Centralized intake, assessment, and triage with a single point of access so that people have the option of seeing the first available surgeon.
B.C.’s wait times for some key surgeries are among the longest in the country - and have grown in recent years. [2]
The previous patchwork approach of short term injections of funding to deal with urgent backlogs, expensive and risky contracts to private for-profit clinics, and lack of system-wide leadership from the provincial government has cost us dearly.
Today’s direction rights the ship and charts a course to a
more efficient, more timely approach to surgery.
Will you join us in sharing your support for today’s announcement? Send an email to your NDP MLA and let them know you’re celebrating the BC government’s announcement to reduce surgical wait times by clicking here.
We also want to recognize how much work you have put into making today’s achievement a reality.
The BC Health Coalition’s action on this issue over the years has included presenting to elected officials and policymakers, public events, petitions, research papers, media work, public education, influencing party platforms, and election campaigning.
Today’s victory is your victory, along with many other organizations and individuals who have worked on this issue. Thank you.
Click here to send a message to your NDP MLA and let them know you support the BC government’s announcement to reduce surgical wait times.
Thank you,
Edith and Adam, for the whole BC Health Coalition team
Sources
[1] https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0010-000460
[2] https://www.cihi.ca/sites/default/files/document/wait-times-report-2017_en.pdf
British Columbia Health Coalition · 3102 Main St, 302,
Vancouver, Unceded Coast Salish Territories, BC V5T 3G7, Canada
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