B.C. surgeries at 5,174 in week, double level at pandemic peak

The number of surgeries being performed in B.C. has risen to more than double those being done at the peak of the pandemic.

During the week of May 25-31, 5,174 surgeries were completed in B.C., up substantially from the weekly average of 2,400 surgeries performed between March 23 and May 17, when the pandemic was in full swing and non-urgent scheduled surgeries and diagnostic procedures were postponed.

By May 18-24, that surgical list had ramped up to 3,961 surgeries a week.

About 6,000 urgent and scheduled surgeries a week were done in the pre-COVID period, Health Minister Adrian Dix said. “So, we’re getting closer to that number with 5,174 this week.”

Publicly funded elective and scheduled surgeries are taking place in all 59 public facilities and eight private sites, said Dix.

Seven of the private day-surgery centres are operating at full contracted capacity, with the exception of the False Creek Surgical Centre, which is anticipated to be in full operation by mid-June.

Last month, Dix said it will take between 17 and 24 months to clear a backlog of 30,298 patients whose elective surgeries were cancelled or weren’t scheduled because of the need to free up hospital beds for potential COVID-19 cases.

Those patients joined those who were already waiting, bringing the total surgical waitlist in the province to 93,000. An additional 24,000 patients would have typically been added during this time.

The first year of the restart plan will cost an estimated $250 million. About 75 per cent of the cost will be for labour, as more surgeons, anesthetists, nurses, cleaners and office assistants are hired.