Orthopedic surgery wait times in BC

[caesar]

As of July 31, 20000 people are waiting for orthopedic surgery 8 to 9 weeks. Three years ago( at the start of Campbells tenure) wait times were 6 weeks for 11000.

This does not include knee or hip replacements which have also risen.

The article does not mention it but this time would start after seeing a specialist and having an MRI which takes 6 months or so for specialist appointment and another approx 9 months to get an MRI unless you are willing to shell out the money yourself. Private clinics have NOT shorten the wait times.

[August1991]

As of July 31, 20000 people are waiting for orthopedic surgery 8 to 9 weeks. Three years ago( at the start of Campbells tenure) wait times were 6 weeks for 11000.

We now judge politicians by the length of queues! That's what people in Soviet Russia did too. Of course, they learned that it makes no difference and the queues just get longer.

I have noticed the provincial governments are tightening up health card security. Watch for new "priority cards" to be issued to people deemed to be special cases. (I think this is done now in determining waiting lists.) Bureaucrats have a love of cards, documents, stamps and arcane rules.

All of this has been seen and done before....

[caesar]

What is the h does the cuts that Campbell made to our health care have to do with Russia???? What has his closing down of many hospitals have to do with Russia???

We are paying higher premiums in BC under Campbell and still waiting in pain for surgery.

Boy, you sure are reaching there for excuses.

[August1991]

What is the h does the cuts that Campbell made to our health care have to do with Russia???? What has his closing down of many hospitals have to do with Russia???

As in Soviet Russia, Canada's health system suffers a great disconnect between the demand for services and the payment for services.

If the price of a good or service is held artificially low, don't be surprised if demand outstrips supply, shortages develop and then lengthy queues. This leads to various queue management schemes including priority lists. Corruption always lurks in the wings - it usually takes the form of polite gifts. Good contacts are critical.

Soviet Russia was filled with this and Canada's health system suffers from this too, and for the same reason.

[caesar]

What a pile of hogwash. Other countries and previously Canada ran health care systems properly. This is all fun and games with trying to pry more money out of the federal government. It should be run by the federal government. Comparing it to Russia is hogwash. Orthopedic surgery is not elective or cosmetic surgery. People are in pain and incapaciatated and on the EI dole because they are unable to work.

[August1991]

What a pile of hogwash. Other countries and previously Canada ran health care systems properly. This is all fun and games with trying to pry more money out of the federal government.

So all the stories we hear are false? The Romanow Commission was a lark?

When was the last time you went to a hospital emergency room? Have you ever tried to make an appointment with a GP who doesn't know you?

[caesar]

That is because the premiers especially here in BC are not funding health care adequately. Lots of money for a fancy RAV line and an expensive paved road to a ski hill but not for health care or childrens services.

It does not have any comparison to Russia. Geesh.

[caesar]

Campbell did give a huge raise to doctors and cut nurses and other support staff salaries. My husband's doctor doesn't come to his office before noon???? GP. The rich doctor's now want more golf time or ???????

[August1991]

Campbell did give a huge raise to doctors and cut nurses and other support staff salaries.

Now you blame the doctors? WTF?

[caesar]

Who do you think is the problem? The suffering patients with injuries that are not being treated. Prior to the Campbell government we had waits but never this long. All the extra money for health care went to the doctors.

Both government and doctors bear some scrutiny.

[August1991]

Who do you think is the problem?

If the consumer of a scarce resource faces a price signal not connected to the cost of delivering that service, a problem will develop. Canada's health system has insufficient stop signs. Insufficient stop signs?

We are using stop signs in a city that desperately needs traffic lights. No wonder the traffic is a mess. And it will only get worse.

[caesar]

Better get some sleep; you make no sense at all.

[August1991]

Better get some sleep; you make no sense at all.

Caesar, markets (our modern world economy) use prices in the same way that city traffic uses traffic lights. In both cases, they provide signals of when to go and when to stop.

Tampering with the signals causes no end of problems. If the signals don't work properly, a city has major traffic jams. (Even when they work, there are major jams.)

Canada's health system used to be a small town where a few stop signs kept things in order. Now our health system has developed into a large city but with no traffic lights. The stop signs are pathetically inadequate.

Does this make more sense?

[caesar]

nope.