News Release
2007-33
March 29, 2007
For immediate release
Saskatchewan Joins with Canada's New Government to Announce Patient Wait Times Guarantee
REGINA -- The Honourable Tony Clement, Federal Minister of Health, and the Honourable Len Taylor, Saskatchewan Health Minister today announced that Saskatchewan has agreed to establish a Patient Wait Times Guarantee in coronary artery bypass graft surgery by 2010, to be supported by $24.8 million in federal Budget 2007 funding. Saskatchewan will also be eligible to benefit from the $400 million in new funding for Canada Health Infoway, and the $30 million for pilot projects as announced in Budget 2007.
“Saskatchewan will join the growing list of provinces and territories that are working with Canada's New Government to establish Patient Wait Time Guarantees,” said Minister Clement. “For the first time, Saskatchewan's residents will be guaranteed timely health care access in the area of coronary artery bypass graft surgery. We congratulate Saskatchewan for committing to this historic step forward in patient care.”
The Government of Saskatchewan is establishing a wait times guarantee for coronary artery bypass graft surgery across Saskatchewan's regional health authorities within the publicly funded health care system. Current pan-Canadian benchmarks for this procedure will be used, ranging from 2 weeks to 26 weeks, depending on the identified level of urgency for each patient. Emergency procedures will continue to be handled on a priority basis.
“This assistance from the federal government will be invested to further our goal of providing residents with needed health services in a timely fashion,” said Minister Taylor. “The Saskatchewan government has made real progress in improving access to diagnostic imaging procedures, surgeries and other services.”
“In our recent discussions, the federal government has acknowledged the innovation and progress demonstrated in our province, particularly in the outstanding work of the Saskatchewan Surgical Care Network,” Minister Taylor said. “Saskatchewan, along with other provinces and territories, looks forward to meaningful discussions with the federal health minister this coming spring that will focus on how we can be partners in continuing this progress.”
Cardiac bypass surgery, or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), is one of five priority procedures identified in the 2004 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care signed by provinces, territories and the federal government.
Saskatchewan Health will work closely with Regional Health Authorities, cardiac specialists and other health system partners to establish and implement a reasonable and responsible recourse for those who do not receive their cardiac bypass surgery within the guaranteed time frame.
Saskatchewan will also undertake a pilot project in the area of recourse for cardiac patients. This pilot project will use a provincial pathway for cardiac services with referral guidelines, service protocols and consideration of specialized transportation requirements.
This announcement marks another step forward by Canada's New Government as it continues to work towards ensuring that all Canadians receive essential medical treatment within clinically acceptable wait times.
Canada's New Government is providing up to $612 million in a Patient Wait Times Guarantee Trust, $400 million for health information technology through Infoway, an organization which is making significant progress in working with provinces and territories to implement electronic health records. In addition to these investments, $30 million over three years will go to provinces and territories for pilot projects related to establishing guarantees.
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Media Enquiries:
Erik Waddell
Office of the Honourable Tony Clement
Federal Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200
Carole Saindon
Health Canada
(613) 957-1588
Joan Petrie
Saskatchewan Health
(306) 787-4083
Public Enquiries:
(613) 957-2991
1-866 225-0709
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