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By Veronica Beltran

getting back up and running won't be easy

Surgery re-introduction ‘greater than anything faced by B.C.’s health system’

May 7, 2020 | 2:03 PM

VICTORIA—On March 16, the province made the decision to postpone surgeries in preparation of a potential influx of COVID-19 patients, and now there’s a plan to start them back up, but it isn’t going to be easy.

Starting this month, the Province will launch an extensive surgical renewal plan that will include calling patients, adding new capacity, and hiring training staff.

“British Columbians have stepped up to the challenge of COVID-19 by making sacrifices, including thousands of people who have waited for postponed elective surgeries. This has been very difficult for people and their families.”—John Horgan, Premier

Horgan says that the efforts and sacrifices made by British Columbians to postpone surgeries has helped flatten COVID-19’s curve in our province.

By May 18th, an estimated 30,000 non-urgent scheduled surgeries will have either been postponed or left on a waitlist due to COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Health, who also says that a further 24,000 patients could be without a referral to a waitlist.

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“Our commitment is now to get patients through their surgery safely. It is a massive undertaking, but we are giving the same 100% effort to the task that we’ve made to flattening the curve in B.C.”—Adrian Dix, Health Minister of B.C.

According to the ministry the 30,000 non-urgent elective postponed surgeries, combined with 24,000 new surgeries are a substantial backlog for the province to address, making this the the greatest impact ever faced by B.C.’s health system.

The actions taken under the plan will ensure the health system can keep up with demand for new surgeries and clear the existing COVID-19 backlog in the next 17 to 24 months.