THUNDER BAY -- Cataract surgeries at the region’s hospital will be postponed until the next fiscal year, hospital officials confirmed Monday afternoon.
A news release issued by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre stated that the surgeries would be postponed until April 1, 2013. As of February 20, 2013, 1,817 cataract surgeries had been performed at the hospital.
That’s 38 more procedures than the hospital was funded for.
Hospital officials do not believe this will “strongly affect” wait times for cataract surgeries.
“Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre performs well above the provincial target of 182 days for cataract surgery wait times,” said Lori Marshall, acting executive vice-president for patient care, health professions and Aboriginal health.
The hospital receives its quotas and funding for cataract and other targeted wait times surgeries through the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s health-care funding model.
“Due to the relatively short service disruption, it is anticipated that patients will continue to receive the surgery within our current average wait time of 66 days.
“As we strive to balance our responsibilities to provide quality healthcare and achieve a balanced budget, we are faced with difficult decisions.”
Previous provincial funding enabled the regional hospital to expand its cataract surgery program and run two dedicated operating rooms side-by-side with one ophthalmologist.
“It is always our goal to provide the right care, in the right place at the right time, and we look forward to resuming cataract surgeries as soon as our next fiscal year begins April 1,” Marshall said, adding that services will begin earlier if additional funds become available.
