More than 10,000 patients in Waterloo Region impacted by pandemic surgical backlog
More than 10,000 patients in Waterloo Region are part of the list of backlogged surgeries and procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
St. Mary's General Hospital has a backlog of about 7,575 patients, while Cambridge Memorial has about 2,400. Grand River Hospital has not yet provided the current number of patients impacted by the backlog.
Among those in the region waiting for procedures is a Cambridge woman who hopes the $324 million the province is committing to help Ontario hospitals tackle the backlog will speed up the process.
Sarah Hunt recently had a procedure to treat a rare nerve cancer in her arm, but before that she was in chronic pain.
"It's been a challenge living through COVID when you can't get the treatments that you need," she said.
Hunt says her good arm now has severe use injuries. The surgery to fix it is scheduled for Aug. 10 at Toronto Western Hospital after waiting since January.
"It's been delayed twice now," Hunt said.
The Ontario government's investment to clear the backlog is to help local hospitals perform more surgeries, MRIs and CT scans.
At St. Mary's Hospital in Kitchener, it's still not clear how much money they will get.
President Lee Fairclough says the government is giving them leeway on how to use the funds effectively.
"Some of those creative ideas will include how can we accelerate the training for people, how can we ensure we are drawing more and more people to come and work in health care," she said.
The government says three out of four patients who were waitlisted for required surgeries between March of last year and this year received care.
Now, the push is on to help those still waiting.
"Patients should start to see more further resumption of that through the fall, and yes you will be hearing from us when we are ready to invite you in for your procedure," Fairclough said.
For Hunt, she hopes the new money means the invitation go out sooner rather than later.
"During the last year, while we've been dealing with COVID, none of these other illnesses have disappeared," she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.