Legislative Electronic Publications -- Access To Information On Waiting Times Improved

Manitoba Government News Release:
Information Services, Room 29, Legislative Building, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 0V8 Telephone: (204)
945-3746 Fax: (204) 945-3988

January 15, 2004

ACCESS TO INFORMATION ON WAITING TIMES IMPROVED
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Website to Provide Patients with Information On Where to Access Timeliest Care

Health Minister Dave Chomiak today launched a Health Services Wait Time Information website.

"The information available on the website will help doctors and patients get a clearer picture of how and where to find the timeliest care," said Chomiak. "This is one piece of the government’s Wait Time Reduction Plan."

The website will provide information on how long a wait there may be for a particular procedure at each facility. Patients and their doctors will be able to determine where care might be accessed more quickly.

The site provides information on wait times for selected procedures such as MRIs, CT scans, ultrasounds, stress MIBI, bone density and radiation therapy. As information is developed, wait time information for other procedures will be added.

Wait times are maintained for elective procedures. Patients who require an immediate diagnostic treatment or surgical procedure receive it on an urgent basis—they are not placed on a wait list.

The provision of information on waiting times is part of the overall Manitoba Wait Time Reduction Plan which includes:

providing more health information for patients including a major Health Links expansion and the Wait Time Information website;

expanding day surgery and out-patient diagnostics to free up hospital beds;

investing in new diagnostic equipment for all regions of the province;

expanding usage of rural operating theatres and diagnostic equipment; and

stabilizing and renewing the nursing workforce.

Just yesterday, Manitoba was recognized by the Canadian Association of Radiologists for having one of the shortest MRI wait times in Canada (the third shortest). The association also recognized that Manitoba’s MRI wait times are being reduced.

"We are moving quickly to deal with waiting time issues in Manitoba," said Chomiak, "but more can and will be accomplished. We have to continually move forward if we want to reduce waiting times, improve access to needed services, and train and hire more nurses."

Chomiak said considerable investments have already been made in a number of health service areas including the education of health care professionals, capital investment in hospitals and diagnostic equipment.

The website can be viewed at http://www.gov.mb.ca/health/waitlist/index.html.

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