Surgery wait times are getting shorter in the Saskatoon Health Region.

The Director of Surgical Services says the recent opening of the private surgery centre the Health Region has a contract with, has helped with their wait list numbers.

Prairieview Surgical Centre on Nelson Road opened in February, and since then they have performed just over 25-hundred surgeries, including pediatric dental work, orthopedic procedures and cataract surgeries.

Jenny Bartsch says that number is on track with what was expected.

She adds the surgery wait list overall in the Region in July of 2011 was 11,600, and this year as of the end of July, it was at 8600, so the wait list has decreased by 3,000 cases.

The goal is by the end of this fiscal year, no one will wait longer than 6 months for surgery.

Bartsch emphasizes performing procedures at a non-hospital facility is only part of their improvement plan.

They are also trying to maximize efficiencies in each facility, and working with patients to make their experience a positive one, asking for feedback to help with improvements.

(ct aug16/12)