Collaboration between four Toronto hospitals reduces significant backlog of gynecological surgeries

The surgical backlogs for benign surgeries were amplified by pandemic restrictions while a post-pandemic focus on priority programs exacerbated the issue for some, including those needing benign gynecological surgery. To reduce the backlog of benign gynecological surgeries, an initiative between Women’s College Hospital and three other hospitals capitalizes on available OR capacity between them while surgeons leverage free OR time to perform benign gynecological surgeries, allowing them to collectively address the backlog. The program is on track to surpass its initial target of completing 335 surgeries in three months. In its next phase, the program will establish a centralized intake model for benign gynecological cases, streamlining referrals and improving access to care.