91社区破解版

The frustration of having orthopaedic surgery referrals placed on hold arose again Tuesday in the legislature.

鈥�(Monday), the minister of Health was asked about the latest round of cuts in services in our health care system,鈥� said Opposition Leader Currie Dixon.

鈥淚n regard to the orthopaedic surgery program, the minister said that these services 鈥樷�� have been expanded at 91社区破解版 General Hospital for the purposes of providing Yukoners with services closer to home, for providing Yukoners with services here in the territory so they don鈥檛 have to travel Outside for these important procedures.鈥�

鈥淭hat is exactly the opposite of what her government is doing,鈥� Dixon added.

鈥淎s a direct result of the Liberals鈥� decision to not provide sufficient resources, the orthopaedic program is no longer accepting referrals, and all non-urgent and semi-urgent consultation requests are being sent out of the Yukon. How can the minister continue to be so out of touch with what is happening in our health care system?鈥�

Minister Tracy-Anne-McPhee responded, 鈥淭here have been no cuts with respect to funding that would affect the orthopaedic surgeon program.鈥�

Staff are trying to hire a third orthopaedic surgeon for the territory, she added.

鈥淭he Yukon hospitals have met and exceeded the service levels agreed to in the memorandum of understanding. The memorandum of understanding states that 100 total joint procedures in 2023-24 would be performed 鈥� to 107,鈥� McPhee said.

鈥淭otal joint procedures were completed 鈥� 55 total knee replacements and 42 total hip replacements. The memorandum of understanding also states that 480 total surgical procedures completed 鈥� of all types 鈥� would be the expectation. In 2023-24, 568 procedures were done.鈥�

Dixon retorted, 鈥淲hat has been cut is the level of service that Yukoners can expect from this program.鈥�

As proof, he cited the letter from the two orthopaedic surgeons, Dr. Scott Westburg and Dr. Adam McIntyre, in which they advised their colleagues they are not accepting referrals for orthopaedic surgeries until further notice.

Dixon then asked, 鈥淗ow can the minister justify her comments (Monday) claiming that they are expanding orthopaedic surgery when we are hearing the exact opposite from the Yukon doctors who are running the program?鈥�

McPhee said the government is aware of the letter and the rising demand, which is related to more emergency orthopaedic surgeries.

鈥淭otal joint replacement wait times are unacceptable to all of us, and we are working to resolve (them),鈥� she said.

Dixon then cited the higher travel costs for Yukoners having to seek orthopaedic services Outside.

鈥淗as the minister determined what impact this service cut will have on the medical travel budget, as so many Yukoners will now have to go Outside for these services, and how much will wait times increase as a result?鈥�

McPhee responded, 鈥淚 am certainly aware of the frustration expressed by Dr. Westberg and Dr. McIntyre, our two resident orthopaedic surgeons.

鈥� ... It is not a matter of just having surgeons available and having nurses available,鈥� she said.

鈥淯p to 11 services are required to operate every operating room when a surgery occurs. There is a wide variety of skills necessary.鈥� Anesthesiologists and nursing staff are essential, for instance.

Premier Ranj Pillai later told reporters that orthopaedic surgery is not a new undertaking in the medical field.

鈥淭he previous (Yukon Party) government that鈥檚 criticizing us right now could have had a chance to make sure that we had the services and they didn鈥檛.鈥�

He noted his government brought in orthopaedic services in 2017.

鈥淲e now have more complex patients coming in our doors. We鈥檝e got an aging population,鈥� he noted.

鈥淭hese are all the reasons that health care is more expensive and challenging, because we have more people to serve. And when you look at population growth by percentage, we鈥檝e been leading the country.鈥�

Officials must reassess the MOU between the orthopaedic doctors and the hospital, and its funding levels, he indicated.

They will examine factors like what the hospital can sustain, capacity required to deliver services, hiring another orthopaedic surgeon, and of course, the costs involved.

Funding is determined through conversations with Yukon Hospital Corp. CEO Jason Bilsky, he noted.

鈥淲e received a number; that鈥檚 the number that鈥檚 being debated downstairs as we go through the means this year.鈥�

Pillai also acknowledged the efforts of the orthopaedic surgeons.

鈥淚 thank the doctors that are there for the unbelievable work they do. And as Yukoners, we鈥檙e extremely lucky to have the availability of their expertise ....鈥�

The pending Yukon Health Authority 鈥� an umbrella organization overseeing health care in the territory 鈥� is an important piece going forward, he added. Enabling legislation was tabled last month.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to make sure that we listen to Yukoners, which is why we鈥檙e looking at a health authority,鈥� the premier said.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 going to be an important transition for our health care system.鈥�

The Yukon is not alone in its health care challenges in Canada, he pointed out.

As for enriching funding for Outside travel for orthopaedic surgery, Pillai noted, 鈥淲e鈥檝e doubled the funds that individuals get when it goes when it comes to travel.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a real challenge, especially for us when you think about British Columbia as a key destination. The cost for hotels and the travel can be substantial.鈥�

Officials are reviewing the potential impacts of more trips Outside, he said.

Pillai pointed out that orthopaedic surgeries are continuing.

鈥淧eople are still getting these procedures .... health care is the top of our list when it comes to our priorities, and we think that鈥檚 the most important thing to be investing in.鈥�