News Releases

RQHR Tackles Surgery Wait Lists with Revised Surgical Plan

(June 11, 2012)

The Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region (RQHR) plans to build on its success and aggressively address surgery wait lists with its Revised 2012 –13 Surgical Initiative Plan.

By continuing to provide Sooner, Safer and Smarter surgical care, the RQHR has renewed its commitment to the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative’s goal of providing all patients an offer of surgery within six months of booking by March 2013.

“Our Region has made really important strides in improving wait times and focusing on the patient experience so far,” Dwight Nelson, RQHR President and CEO said. “In order to meet our targets – and sustain them – we have created a plan that includes new and innovative actions beyond what is currently in place, and we’re looking forward to seeing the results.”

The plan was revised to more aggressively address the issue of patients with extended waits for surgery in the Region. Currently, 95 per cent of patients receive an offer of surgery within 12 months.

The RQHR’s Revised Surgical Initiative Plan proposes a broad range of actions, including increasing capacity, improving daily work and best practices, further enhancing the current human resources plan, and strengthening leadership, accountability and engagement of all staff and physicians. The plan will require additional financial resources estimated at $21 million in order to achieve an additional 5,000 procedures.

On average, the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region performs 21,500 surgical procedures per year. Last year, the Region exceeded that number, performing 22,700 surgeries.

The RQHR Revised 2012-13 Surgical Initiative Plan can be accessed by clicking here.

To read the backgrounder click here.

For more information, contact:

Jenna Webb
Communications Consultant - Regina Qu'Appelle Health Region
Phone:(306) 766-0889