Private surgery centre help reduce Sask. wait times

The Regina Surgical Centre, a privately-owned multi-specialty facility for day surgeries, was first opened in March 2012 as a part of the Saskatchewan Surgical Initiative plan.

Since the plan came into effect, there has been a 50 per cent reduction in patients over three months for day surgery and nearly a 70 per cent reduction in patients waiting over six months.

“It’s awesome in the sense that we have been partners in trying to reduce the wait list and reduce patient suffering so that they can go back to work and basically be economically stable once again,” said Dr. Mohamed Nanji, president and CEO of SCI.

The surgical process at the centre is similar to what is offered in a hospital setting. All surgeries are scheduled by the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region.

Glenn Moore was a patient at the centre last year. He had to get cataract surgery in both of his eyes. He said he needed to get the surgery done quickly because his eyesight was so bad, he could barely drive.

He never thought he would only have to wait three months to get both eyes repaired.

“If you would’ve told me a year ago that I was going to have to wait one year or two years to have cataract surgery, I would’ve thought that was normal,” Moore said.

Over the past five years, more than 22,000 patients have undergone surgical procedures at the Regina facility.