British Columbians are waiting more than five months on average for medically necessary surgery, according to a right-leaning think-tank.
In its annual report on waiting times in Canada released Wednesday, the Vancouver-based Fraser Institute says patients in B.C. waited an average of 9.5 weeks between seeing their general practitioner and a specialist and 11.6 weeks from specialist to treatment for a total of 21.2 weeks.
While the number is the same as last year, it has doubled since 1993 when it was 10.4 weeks, according to the report.
Nationally, the average wait time for Canadians seeking surgery or other therapeutic treatment was lower than B.C.’s and also remained the same as last year at 18.2 weeks.
The study examines the total wait time faced by patients from referral by a general practitioner, to consultation with a specialist, and receipt of treatment.
Some areas of treatment have increased in waiting times, such orthopedic surgery, with patients waiting on average 42.2 weeks, up from 39.6 weeks in 2013 and 19.5 weeks in 1993.
Areas of improvement include medical oncology (3.3 weeks) and radiation oncology (4.2 weeks.)
Among provinces, waiting times in 2014 (from referral to treatment) were longest in New Brunswick (37.3 weeks), Prince Edward Island (35.9 weeks) and Nova Scotia (32.7 weeks). Ontario (at 14.1 weeks) had the shortest waits, followed by Saskatchewan (14.2) and Quebec (16.9).
The study, Waiting Your Turn: Wait Times for Health Care in Canada, is based on an annual survey of physicians practising in 12 specialties in each province, according to the Fraser Institute.
