'The status quo is not acceptable,' says minister of health
Ontario is making sure that locals are able to get the MRI and CT scans that they need within a month.
Under the province’s Your Health: A Plan for Connected and Convenient Care plan, the provincial government is adding 100,000 more MRI and CT scans at community surgical and diagnostic centres across the province each year.
“When it comes to wait times for surgeries and procedures, the status quo is not acceptable. That’s why our government is taking bold action to boost access to surgeries and diagnostic imaging so that Ontarians can conveniently access the care they need sooner, closer to home,” said Sylvia Jones, deputy premier and minister of health.
“Increasing the number of MRI and CT scans being done each year is the next step we’re taking to reduce wait times for more publicly funded surgeries and procedures, ensuring people get the care they need, when they need it.”
The expansion of services will help to reduce wait times for MRI and CT scans to 28 days in every region of the province from the date the order/requisition was received to the date that people receive their scan, according to the provincial government.
Wait time of 21.6 weeks for surgeries
In 2023, Ontario had a median wait time of 21.6 weeks for surgeries, lower than the national figure of 27.7 weeks between a referral from a general practitioner and receipt of treatment, according to the Fraser Institute.
This comes after, in April, Ontario tapped the services of Accreditation Canada to ensure the highest quality standards and strong oversight of the 900+ current and all future community surgical and diagnostic centres in the province.
The provincial government has opened applications for community surgical and diagnostic centres, and will grant licenses starting in Fall 2024. The call for applications is open for 10 weeks starting June 3, 2024, and will close at 11:59 p.m. on Monday August 12, 2024.
Under Bill 60, all applicants must submit a detailed staffing plan, details on how they consulted with health system partners, show current linkages to the health care system anddetail their processes for providing information and obtaining patient consent amongst other requirements.
Ontario will also hold two additional calls for applications this summer and fall to also expand the number of community surgical and diagnostic centres that can connect people to GI endoscopy procedures and orthopedic surgeries.
In November 2023, Manitoba announced it will make an initial investment of $2.75 million to expand the number of allied health staff and hospital case coordinators. The province is also looking for feedback from health care workers as it seeks to bring about some improvement into its healthcare system.
