More than 500 days have passed since Bruce Erskine was referred for a consultation regarding hip replacement surgery, yet he has not had a conversation with a surgeon. When his family doctor made the referral in January 2025, Erskine was informed that the entire process would typically take about 18 months. Despite living in Halifax, Erskine has surpassed this timeframe without receiving a surgery date, leaving him in a state of uncertainty. Consequently, his mobility and quality of life have significantly declined, impacting his ability to walk without assistance and engage in activities with his grandson.
Erskine expressed the physical and psychological pain of being left in a waiting limbo, emphasizing the toll it has taken on him. A recent report by the Canadian Institute for Health Information highlighted that while wait times for hip and knee replacement surgeries in Nova Scotia have been reported as the shortest on record, the analysis only tracks the duration from surgical consultation to the actual operation, failing to consider the wait time from initial referral to consultation with a surgeon.
Dr. Jhase Sniderman, an orthopedic surgeon at Dartmouth General Hospital, highlighted the negative consequences of prolonged consultation waits on patients, noting that increased pain and reduced function can have adverse effects on overall health. Over the past decade, the median wait time for a hip replacement consultation has more than doubled, contrasting with the improvement seen in reducing surgical wait times during the same period.
Cathy Lynn Howley, a director of the Nova Scotia Health perioperative care network, acknowledged the importance of shorter surgery waits but emphasized the significance of addressing lengthy consultation waits to enhance the overall patient experience. The surge in patients requiring orthopedic surgeries, coupled with the province’s aging population, likely contributes to the delays in consultation appointments.
Efforts have been made to improve the situation, such as the implementation of a centralized booking system and the establishment of orthopedic assessment clinics to assist patients in managing pain while awaiting consultations. Despite these initiatives, Howley refrained from disclosing a specific plan to alleviate consultation wait times, emphasizing ongoing efforts within Nova Scotia Health to address the issue promptly.
Patients like Monika Lalonde from Falmouth, N.S., have shared their struggles with worsening pain and declining health during the prolonged wait for consultations. Lalonde, who has been waiting for a hip replacement consultation for approximately 500 days, expressed frustration over the lack of progress and deteriorating mobility, impacting her daily activities significantly.
Comparatively, Nova Scotia’s transparency in reporting consultation wait times sets it apart from most provinces, providing insight into the extended wait periods experienced by patients. The province’s data reveals substantial differences in consultation and surgery wait times when compared to provinces like Ontario, underscoring the need for continued efforts to enhance access to timely orthopedic care within Nova Scotia.
