The provincial government is investing $12 million in a program to reduce long wait times for consultations and treatment for acute spinal care, Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara announced Tuesday.
The goal is to establish centralized wait lists and co-ordinate care with providers, diagnostic imaging and surgical resources across the province, Asagwara said in a news release.
“Manitobans should not have to suffer from debilitating spinal pain,” the minister said, adding spinal operating slates will increase by more than 50 per cent beginning next month.
Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara (Matt Goerzen / The Brandon Sun files)
Asagwara said three spinal surgeons — two in Winnipeg and one in Brandon — have been recruited over the past 10 months.
Concordia Hospital, Brandon Regional Health Centre and Health Sciences Centre are getting new state-of-the-art, minimally invasive surgical equipment to improve patient outcomes, Asagwara said.