The NLMA has received a letter from the province’s health minister indicating that he’s willing to meet to discuss ways to address a backlog in surgical procedures.
The Medical Association this week issued an update on the number of surgeries still in the cue. As of April 12, the combined waitlists totaled nearly 6,800 backlogged surgical cases.
The bulk of those surgeries are orthopedic. NLMA President Dr. Susan MacDonald says that has far-reaching impacts, especially on those that may be off work or suffering in pain.
People are living with conditions that have taken them off work and that make it difficult to function and they need the surgery to get back to their life says MacDonald.
MacDonald is encouraged that government is willing to meet with them and discuss solutions. “It’s going to take some work though,” she says.