While surgical wait times are down considerably since 2007, there has been a slight uptick in recent years. 

Dr. F H Wigmore Regional Hospital in Moose Jaw

In 2007 about 60% of residents in Saskatchewan that were waiting for surgical procedures were receiving their procedure in 6 months or less.

Through a variety of initiatives and programs that number climbed to about 98%. Over that past couple of years, that number has slipped to where it is today, about 90.8% of procedures are provided within 6 months.

The creeping increase has been noticed by the provincial opposition which has regularly criticized the government on the slipping performance. 

To combat the wait time-reversal Premier Scott Moe made clear that new funding will be earmarked to reverse the trend. 

"The surgical initiative we announced a few years ago was a great success," said Minister of Health Jim Reiter. "But the numbers have slipped a bit. It is going in the wrong direction, so this is about dealing with it before it becomes a big issue."

Already the government has set in motion their plan. In the final days of October, it was announced in the session that $10 million would be earmarked for lowering surgical wait times. This new funding should see the about 1700 additional surgeries be performed before March of 2020. The surgical areas being targeted include cataracts, hip and knee replacements, gynecological surgeries, dental, and ear, nose and throat procedure.

To meet the 2020 target the provincial Health Authority will be increasing surgical hours in hospitals. They will also be looking to increase contract volumes with some third-party facilities.

At last available data sets, individuals waiting longer than six months for a procedure was down 44% in Saskatchewan since 2010.