Clinic offers to help clear surgical backlog

A private health clinic in Vancouver has written to the provincial government offering its services to help clear the backlog of surgical patients waiting for their operations.

The False Creek Surgical Centre says it's willing to accept a flat rate from the province. "We've made an offer of $1,800 per surgery to at least help us pay for these people who so badly need care," says Dr. Mark Godley.

That flat rate is cheaper than the costs of carrying out the surgery at a regular hospital.

LINK: False Creek Surgical Centre

Dr. Godley estimates surgical waiting lists have grown by more than 1,500 people because of the recent doctors' dispute.

The offer comes after the centre performed free back surgery on Matthew de Koning of Abbotsford who couldn't get the operation in a hospital.

De Koning's back surgery had been postponed repeatedly because of the doctors' job action.

Since then, the clinic has been deluged with calls from people who want their elective surgery now.

Godley says if the government rejects his proposal, he may push for the establishment of a public trust fund to pay for those surgeries.