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The provincial government has unveiled its plan to reschedule the thousands of surgeries that were postponed and delayed due to the pandemic.

“British Columbians have been suffering not just by not seeing their friends, not just by not going out to enjoy the splendor of British Columbia, but they’ve been living in pain,” said Premier John Horgan.

“Today we will start the process of releasing that pain for people who have been suffering because of the lack of elective surgeries.”

The first year of the plan will cost an estimated $250 million. About 75 per cent of the cost will be for labour costs, as more doctors — especially anesthetists — are hired and nurses are offered full-time work. Hours will be expanded, with surgeries and procedures done seven days a week, and there will be extended weekday hours. New and unused spaces will be opened, and private clinics will also be used.

Summertime, when hospitals usually experience a slow down as nurses and doctors go on vacation and the number of surgeries are reduced, will now operate at full capacity to clear the backlog.

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

Those people joined those who were already waiting, bringing the total waitlist to 93,000.

Calls will begin today to everyone who has had a procedure postponed to ensure they want to proceed. Patients will have the option to wait if they are uncomfortable with going to hospital or day-surgery clinics during the pandemic.

The province aims to restart surgeries by May 18, ramping up capacity over four weeks to near normal pre-COVID levels. By May 31, all private contracted facilities are expected to be working at maximum available capacity.

The recruitment and training of new staff will begin in June.

By June 15, all available operating rooms are expected to be running at full capacity. The expansion of weekday hours and adding Saturdays and Sundays to the schedule will unfold through June until October 15.

More to come

ceharnett@timescolonist.com