The Nova Scotia government says it will spend $4.2 million this year to tackle long wait times for orthopedic surgeries.
Waitlists for patients in need of hip and knee replacements are among the worst in the country, but the government hopes the funding will change that.
Jean Johns has been on a wait list for a hip replacement for six months.
“I look like I may be on it for another six months, hopefully not,” says Johns.
“I can’t sort of move around and do my housework like I could, and it takes a while. You have to plan what you’re going to do and then make sure I’ve got my cane.”
As of March 31, 857 Nova Scotians were waiting for hip replacements, while another 2,248 were waiting for knee replacements.
Nova Scotia Health Minister Leo Glavine says many patients may wait for 18 to 20 months for surgery.
“We know they live in pain and their condition deteriorates,” says Glavine. “In some cases, I’ve heard that surgery might not improve their case because they have been waiting for such a long time.”
The national benchmark for joint replacement is six months – something Nova Scotia is trying to achieve.
Glavine says the money will be used to recruit a foot and ankle sub-specialist surgeon, to perform more hip and knee replacements and to improve efficiency in orthopedic care.
The Health Department is also publishing wait time information online for all surgeries today.
The province and Doctors Nova Scotia say the website will increase transparency and help physicians referring patients for surgery.
The wait times website includes statistics for a variety of services, including surgery, radiation therapy, cardiac services and referrals to specialists.
“Let’s say, because an orthopedic surgeon has a lower wait time than somebody in the city, I can maybe try to get you in there if you’re prepared to go to the Valley,” says Kevin Chapman of Doctors Nova Scotia.
“You can start to at least make some choices around accessing the system.”
Johns had her other hip replaced two years ago, following a ten-month wait. She says Monday’s announcement has already given her hope.
“I just really hope it’s going to make a difference. I think it will because there’s just so many people waiting. It has to.”
With files from CTV Atlantic's Jacqueline Foster and The Canadian Press
