'No small task': Windsor Regional to ramp up elective surgeries to clear backlog
The pandemic's effect on Ontario's hospital system has been extensive, including tens of thousands of delayed elective surgeries.
The province has announced $324 million in additional funding to help ease that pandemic-driven backlog, asking hospitals to run at 115 per cent of pre-COVID-19 levels.
Windsor Regional Hospital, which typically performs 30,000 surgeries a year, will be among the Ontario hospitals boosting operating capacity to address that backlog, which officials say is currently at 3,500.
The hospital’s chief of staff, Dr. Wassim Saad, says it could take a year to catch up – and it won’t be easy.
"Even if tomorrow they gave us a billion dollars to clear out the backlog, if you don’t have the staff and personnel to be able to do those procedures and to look after those patients, you're not going to be able to catch up,” Saad says. “So to ask hospitals to do 115 per cent is a big ask. It's no small task."
Saad says staff have been working hard throughout the pandemic and many are in need of some time off, which could complicate the push to complete more in-house surgeries. He says the hospital will need to either hire more staff or ask people to do more.
Other limiting factors include physical space and the looming threat of a fourth wave of the virus this fall.
On the positive side, the hospital has still been performing essential surgeries uninterrupted throughout the pandemic.
“We prioritize cancer surgeries, so we never once delayed any cancer surgeries and we kept them going throughout the pandemic, even in the first wave when everything else was shut down,” he says.
Other surgeries, such as cataracts and fractures, were accommodated off-site with physician partners, to ensure the backlog was limited to non-essential surgeries only, Dr. Saad says.
“We do have a committee that's meant to prioritize cases,” Dr. Saad says. “So unfortunately it's not a first come, first served basis. If you do end up on one of those lists, you're being reviewed on a weekly basis to see what the criteria are for you to jump the queue. Hang in there. We're definitely working on it.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.