For her second knee replacement, Nancy Cheung waited 14 months, but she was offered a surgical date 8 months after seeing her surgeon. She turned it down because of work committments. The pain for Nancy was unbearable with anti-inflammatories, but the quality of life was not great.

Nancy had her surgery done at the Richmond Hospital, she was one of the first in the hospital's fast track program.

Through that program, surgical procedures were streamlined so that more hip and knee replacements could be done within a set time. Now the province wants to expand the program to UBC Hospital and other hospitals around the province.

Dr. Margaret Macdiarmid, President-Elect of BC Medical Association, says, "We're happy to see people taking interest in waiting lists. We think the waiting lists are far too long."

The BCMA is also pleased that the government is putting more money towards chronic disease management, but the pledge to set up 5000 new assisted living and home care beds over the next three years is not enough.

Without more longterm care beds in the community, doctors fear emergency rooms will continue to be log-jammed.

Although there was no mention of private clinics in the budget, the premier has hinted they may play a greater role in delivering health care. It's something patients like Nancy are not adverse to.

Premier Campbell will be off to Europe to look for other solutions to our health care woes. He will tpur several European countries -- including England, France, Norway and Sweden to examine their different health care strategies.  Each of those countries' medical care services are ranked higher than Canada's by the World Health Organization. Health Minister George Abbott, and a representative from the Health Council of Canada will also be accompanying the Premier.
 

Friday February 24, 2006