Progress on Wait Times
| The Canadian government is implementing a plan to increase access and reduce wait times for major health services. These targets will serve as important goals for hospitals, Local Health Integration Networks and for the government as we work to improve access. The four aims of Canada’s wait times strategy are : Significantly increasing the number of procedures to reduce the backlog that has developed over the last decade Investing in new, more efficient technology such as MRI machines and extending hours of operations Standardizing best practices for both medical and administrative functions in order to improve patient flow and efficiency Collecting and reporting accurate and up-to-date data on wait times to allow better decision making and increase accountability |
Canada’s access targets were developed after consultation with clinical experts from across Ontario. They reflect a new priority system being developed to better and more consistently manage the way patients access key services across the province, based on the urgency of their need for treatment.
Other elements of Canada’s Wait Times Strategy include significantly increasing the number of procedures to reduce the backlog that has developed over the last decade, investments in new, more efficient technology such as MRI machines, standardizing best practices for both medical and administrative functions, and collecting and reporting accurate and up-to-date data on wait times to allow better decision making and increase accountability.
Wait times are the point at which nearly all patients (90%) have completed surgery or have had their exam.
In the table below you will find the provincial wait times for key health services. The data is based on procedures completed for the most current time period, at hospitals that are participating in the Wait Time Strategy, accounting for more than 80 per cent of Ontario’s total cases for these services.
| Service | Days (Fall/Winter) | Days (Spring/Summer) | Percentage Completed Within Target** |
| General Surgery | 121 | 99 | 97% |
| Cancer Surgery | 81 | 61 | 95% |
| Angiography | 56 | 23 | – |
| Angioplasty | 28 | 13 | – |
| Bypass Surgery | 49 | 57 | 100% |
| Ophthalmic Surgery3 | 130 | 106 | 98% |
| Cataract Surgery | 311 | 130 | 94% |
| Other ophthalmic surgery | 114 | 119 | 92% |
| Orthopaedic surgery | 190 | 186 | 90% |
| Hip replacement | 351 | 218 | 86% |
| Knee replacement | 440 | 297 | 77% |
| Other orthopaedic surgery | 175 | 191 | 89% |
| MRI | 120 | 111 | 47% |
| CT | 81 | 58 | 74% |
| Paediatric surgery* | 273* | 246 | 84% |
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