Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Ontario. Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Ontario Government Reducing Health Care Wait Times
New Wait Time Data Shows Double-Digit Drops in the South West Area
TORONTO – New data shows the Ontario
government’s Wait Time Strategy is resulting in
decreases in wait times for key health services in
the South West Local Health Integration Network
(LHIN) area, Health and Long-Term Care Minister
George Smitherman announced today.
“Trends in the South West LHIN area are
remarkable with significant decreases in wait times
for a number of key health services,” Smitherman
said. “Through the leadership and hard work of
thousands of front line health professionals, the
Wait Time Strategy is clearly achieving real results
for patients by improving access to care, closer to
home.”
As a result of the government’s Wait Time
Strategy, wait times in which 90 per cent of cases
are completed in the South West LHIN area have
decreased significantly since August/September
2005 by:
- 59.3 per cent for cataract surgery (208 days)
- 41.0 per cent for hip replacement (177 days)
- 36.6 per cent for knee replacement (176 days)
- 29.4 per cent for angiography (14 days)
- 24.2 per cent for angioplasty (10 days)
- 12.6 per cent for cardiac bypass surgery (seven
days).
At the same time, Smitherman acknowledged one
health service area that remains a challenge –
there has been a 10.3 per cent increase in wait
times in MRI scans since August/September
2005.
“We continue to make significant investments in
MRI scans and we expect to see improvements in
wait times for this area,” Smitherman said.
Since the launch of the Wait Time Strategy, the
Ontario government has invested $65,386,211 for
additional procedures in hospitals in the South
West LHIN area, including :
- 7,466 cataract surgeries ($5,513,450)
- 11,329 cardiac procedures ($17,291,150)
- 2,812 hip and knee joint replacements
($22,791,534)
- 1,826 cancer surgeries ($11,440,877)
- 23,931 hours, 35,897 exams MRI ($7,636,900)
- 2,847 hours, 9,965 exams CT ($712,300).
The new wait time data is available at www.ontariowaittimes.com,
which is closing in
on nearly 4
million hits as of today.
“This is a very significant achievement in
improved access to care for patients and
communities served by the South West LHIN,” said
Tony Woolgar, chief executive officer of the South
West LHIN. “It reflects the commitment and hard
work of health care organizations and health care
professionals who have worked closely together to
achieve these results. We will continue to work
with our health service providers to build on this
improvement as part of the implementation of our
Integrated Health Service Plan.”
Today’s initiative is part of the McGuinty
government’s plan for innovation in public health
care, building a system that delivers on three
priorities – keeping Ontarians healthy, reducing
wait time and providing better access to doctors
and nurses.
For further information:
Members of the media:
Jeff Rohrer, 416-326-8016
Minister`s Office
David Jensen, 416-314-6197
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
Members of the general public:
416-327-4327, or 1-866-532-3161
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