Surgical and endoscopy bookings

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Nova Scotia Health centralized booking teams work with surgeons and specialists who provide surgeries and endoscopies across the province to help support them with:

• scheduling patients for surgery and endoscopy procedures
• rebooking patients who were not available
• rescheduling patients who had to be postponed
• preparing patients for their procedures
• keeping wait lists accurate and up to date

Once you and your healthcare provider have confirmed that surgery, or an endoscopy are needed, they will add you to their wait list. 

How are patients scheduled for their procedures?

Wait lists are kept for each specialist. Their lists include information on:

• who is waiting
• how long they have been waiting
• the type of procedure they need
• the priority level assigned by the surgeon or endoscopy specialist
• other known details, such as:
  • if the patient will be away and not available for part of the year
  • if the patient declined a booking date that was offered
  • if the patient has been notified of a surgery date
  • if the patient must be scheduled for testing or clinic visits before their surgery

The order that patients appear on a specialist’s list is based on a combination of:

• the priority level they were assigned by their specialist
• how long they have been waiting
• how urgently other patients on the list need care

Central booking teams use wait list details and other important information to create lists of patients to be scheduled. They consider things such as:

• the time needed for the procedure
• how much operating or endoscopy room time the specialist is assigned
• if the patient needs to stay in hospital or will require intensive care after their surgery
• has the patient received the testing they need before surgery
• if there is a suspected or proven cancer diagnosis

Most sites and services are now supported by centralized booking teams, with the remaining sites and services expected to have this approach in place by the end of this year.

What happens after I am booked?

Once a patient has been selected to be booked, they will be contacted with details. In most areas of the province, the central booking team makes these calls.

Specialists’ offices continue to contact patients directly for procedures that are occurring at hospitals in Halifax, Dartmouth and Windsor.

Patients will be asked to confirm they can attend and will be given details such as when to arrive, where to register and any other instructions.

Who can I contact with questions or to provide updated contact information?

Emergency?        

If you are experiencing an emergency please call 911 or visit the nearest available emergency department.

Has your condition changed?

It is important that you contact your specialist’s office, or your primary care provider (if you have one), if you experience any changes. For example, if your condition gets worse, you start a new medication or you are diagnosed with other health challenges.                       

Where should I call if I have other needs or questions?

For Central Zone hospitals - Halifax, Dartmouth and Windsor only:

• Surgical patients can contact the Surgical Waitlist Manager (902-473-8486) if they want to confirm they are on the waitlist or to have their name removed from the list.
• Patients should direct all other surgery or endoscopy related questions to their specialist or primary care provider, including changes to their condition or contact information.

For all other hospitals in the province:

• Patients who are waiting to have surgery or an endoscopy procedure are asked to contact the Central booking team for the hospital they will receive care if:
  • They need to provide updated contact information, including their phone numbers, email and mailing address.
  • Can no longer make the appointment that was booked for their surgery or an endoscopy.
  • If they have other questions about their surgery or endoscopy. 
• Please note that surgeries and endoscopies are only scheduled a couple weeks out, so team members may not have detailed information on when you will be scheduled. They can confirm that you are on the waitlist and update information on your file.

Eastern Zone (Cape Breton, Guysborough and Antigonish areas) Centralized Surgery and Endoscopy Booking Teams:

• Cape Breton Hospitals - 902-567-5355
• Saint Martha’s Regional Hospital - 902-867-4500 Ext. 4223            

Northern Zone (Colchester-East Hants, Cumberland and Pictou areas) Centralized Surgery and Endoscopy Booking Teams:

• Aberdeen Hospital - 902-752-7600 Ext. 4260
• Colchester East Hants Health Centre - 902-893-5538
• Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre - 902-667-2431

Western Zone (Annapolis Valley, South Shore and South West areas) Centralized Surgery and Endoscopy Booking Teams:

• South Shore Regional Hospital - 902-527-5083
• Yarmouth Regional Hospital - 902-749-1055
• Valley Regional Hospital - 902-679-2657 ext 2401