London Children's Hospital Slashes Surgery Wait Times by 26%

Big news for families in London, Ontario! The city's Children's Hospital has successfully slashed surgery wait times by over 26% in the past year, offering quicker access to vital procedures for young patients from all over Southwestern Ontario.

The significant reduction in wait times is credited to increased capacity in the operating rooms and improvements in the hospital's minor procedure rooms. This advancement comes after the hospital received a share of $330 million in provincial funding last summer aimed at expanding children's healthcare across the province.

Children’s Hospital, located at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), was allocated $14.2 million from this funding, with $3.3 million specifically earmarked for surgical enhancements. Thanks to this financial boost, the hospital could purchase new equipment for minor procedures, further streamlining processes.

Dr. Andreana Bütter, head of the pediatric surgery division, emphasized the importance of this funding in reducing the surgery waitlist considerably. No child should have to wait longer than necessary for vital surgeries, and the additional funds have allowed the hospital to maintain increased operating room time and utilize minor procedure rooms more effectively.

The results speak for themselves: the waitlist for children’s surgeries in London has dropped from 1,100 to 720. This impressive reduction means that more than half of the children are now receiving their surgeries within the government-set timelines, compared to just 44% the previous year.

On a typical day, the hospital runs three to five operating rooms, but with the recent funding, they could add roughly two more weekly. As a result, hundreds of additional surgeries have been performed this year alone, not including the smaller procedures carried out in minor procedure rooms.

These minor procedure rooms, initially opened during the COVID-19 pandemic, cater to less-invasive surgeries in a sterile environment outside traditional operating rooms. On average, about 90 to 120 children are seen monthly in these rooms for procedures like ear tube insertion, cyst and mole removal, and examinations under anesthesia.

In the last three-and-a-half years, around 3,600 minor procedures have been performed, successfully diverting 1,600 cases from the main operating rooms to allow focus on more severe cases. This shift has significantly optimized the use of resources and reduced overall wait times.

The funding isn't just about surgical equipment; it's also going toward enhancing access to care in other critical areas. The hospital is expanding its child and adolescent mental health team in the emergency department, enhancing services for eating disorders, and growing its pain management program.

These comprehensive improvements mean that children and their families in London can look forward to faster, more efficient, and more holistic healthcare services. If you or someone you know has a child awaiting surgery, there's good reason to be optimistic!