Health Minister Ross Wiseman continues to delay in bringing forth any concrete plans to deal with the systemic problems causing surgery cancellations and emergency room wait times that exceed the national average, says Opposition Leader Yvonne Jones. Jones raised the issue earlier today in the House of Assembly. 

Earlier today, one of the four surgical operating lists at the Janeway was cancelled due to the nursing shortage. This cancellation involved all of today’s scheduled orthopedic surgeries for children and created more stress and concern for the families who were hoping to have these surgeries completed.

“The minister doesn’t seem to have a handle on the increasing number of surgeries that are being cancelled due to a lack of nurses, anesthetists, and other medical professionals,” said Ms. Jones. “Today’s cancellations are another example that our nursing system is suffering and government has no real plan to deal with the crisis. Instead of dealing with these issues at the negotiating table and binding arbitration, government is moving closer to a strike that will further damage nursing morale and our health care system.”

Jones also referenced the continuing concern facing the province’s emergency rooms and waiting times. Last April, the Opposition asked the minister a number of questions related to delays in emergency room care and the availability of beds. CBC has revisited this issue today and identified that the same problematic gaps exist a year later.

“In his answers last year, the minister would not acknowledge that there were systemic issues within emergency room care delivery and delays. He noted that problems, such as the availability of beds, were isolated based on an influx of patients at any given time. Government committed $1 million to study the problem, yet over a year later there is still no report. The minister continuously deflects issues by stating that studies and reviews will take place, however, we never see these reports or, more importantly, the promised improvements.”