Wait times for elective surgeries continue to be higher than they were before the pandemic.

That’s according to a new study from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Director of Health System Analytics, Tracy Johnson says that in this province during the pandemic only about 60 per cent of people waiting for a hip replacement were able to get the procedure done within six months. That’s compared to 75 per cent before the pandemic.

As well, she says only about 40 per cent of people were able to get knee replacements in the same timeframe, and 55 per cent could get cataract surgery.

Johnson says such scheduled procedures, while less urgent, are no less important.

She says those patients may be having pain and mobility issues, and as a result may not be able to work.