9.73°C Vancouver
Ads

May 7, 2020 9:45 PM -

B.C. government announces "ambitious plan" to reschedule thousands of cancelled surgeries

Share On
b-c-government-announces-ambitious-plan-to-reschedule-thousands-of-cancelled-surgeries
Premier John Horgan addressing media conference in Vancouver, about activating its provincial pandemic plan to deal with the novel coronavirus. Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry can also be seen in the pic. March 6, 2020. Connect News/Jawad Siddiqui

The B.C. government is announcing what it describes as an ``ambitious plan'' to rescheduled thousands of cancelled surgeries and increase capacity in the health-care system.

The government estimates it will take 17 to 24 months to clear a backlog of 30,000 patients whose surgeries have been cancelled or weren't scheduled because COVID-19 health restrictions.

It says those patients joined or remained on an existing backlog, bringing the total waiting list to 93,000.

The first year of the plan will cost $250 million, and includes hiring additional staff, expanding hours, opening new and unused spaces, and turning to private clinics.

Under the plan, the government says it will begin calling each patient to confirm that they want to proceed with surgery while COVID-19 is a concern.

Beginning May 18, surgical services will resume and increase capacity over four weeks to near-normal levels.


Latest news

alberta-surpasses-300-measles-cases-as-doctors-warn-of-exponential-increases
AlbertaMay 09, 2025

Alberta surpasses 300 measles cases as doctors warn of exponential increases

More than 300 people in Alberta have fallen ill from measles since March and a group of doctors are warning the virus could grow exponentially in the coming weeks. The Alberta government is reporting 16 new measles cases to bring the province's total count to 313. The rising number has prompted the association representing Alberta doctors to warn of an outbreak that could quickly reach the thousands. Dr. James Talbot, Alberta's former chief medical officer of health, says cases are likely much higher than reported and that for every 1,000 cases, one to three people will likely die.
trump-administration-steps-up-efforts-to-reduce-india-pakistan-tensions
IndiaMay 08, 2025

Trump administration steps up efforts to reduce India-Pakistan tensions

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke Thursday with the prime minister of Pakistan and India's foreign minister as the Trump administration stepped up efforts to prevent the nuclear-armed South Asian rivals from going to war. In separate calls with Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Rubio ``emphasized the need for immediate de-escalation,'' the State Department said Rubio also ``expressed U.S. support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications,'' according to readout
ontario-reports-almost-200-new-measles-cases-as-virus-spreads-across-canada
CanadaMay 08, 2025

Ontario reports almost 200 new measles cases as virus spreads across Canada

Health officials say measles infected 197 more people in Ontario over the last week as the highly contagious disease emerged in new parts of the country. That brings the province’s tally of probable and confirmed cases to 1,440 since an outbreak began in October. Public Health Ontario’s measles report says there have been 101 hospitalizations, including 75 children. Eight patients have been in intensive care. Nova Scotia and Northwest Territories each reported measles cases earlier this week, marking their first since this outbreak began. Alberta reported yesterday that its overall case co
surrey-mayor-asks-carney-for-a-surrey-mp-in-cabinet
BCMay 08, 2025

Surrey mayor asks Carney for a Surrey MP in cabinet

Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke has asked Premier Mark Carney to give the MP from Surrey a seat in his cabinet. She said that Surrey is about to become the first city in BC to reach a population of 1 million and it also borders the United States, so given the city’s development needs, we believe that Surrey should have a strong voice in the federal cabinet. The mayor said that I believe this will be an important step to support and ensure the continued growth of Surrey. She said that the city is growing by an average of 28 residents per day.
nikki-haley-supports-indias-action-against-pakistan
IndiaMay 08, 2025

Nikki Haley supports India's action against Pakistan

American Republican leader Nikki Haley has supported India's action against Pakistan. She said that Pakistan has no right to play the victim card here, no country can be given the right to support terrorism. Nikki Haley said that dozens of Indians were killed in the terrorist attack in India's Pahalgam, so India has every right to retaliate and take steps for its security. It is noteworthy that Nikki Haley is a former governor of South Carolina and has been the US ambassador to the United Nations during President Donald Trump's first term. She was the first Indian-American to be appointed
ADS
Ads

Related News

ADS
Ads