{
  "id": "scheduled-surgery-wait",
  "category": "Health care access",
  "title": "Typical wait for scheduled surgery, Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals",
  "geography": "Royal Jubilee and Victoria General hospitals, compared with Island Health and British Columbia",
  "scope": "region",
  "levels": [
    "Provincial (health authority)"
  ],
  "plain_question": "Once a surgery is booked, how many weeks does the typical person wait?",
  "value": 5.9,
  "display_value": "5.9",
  "unit": "weeks (median wait for surgeries completed in the year, Royal Jubilee; Victoria General 7)",
  "period": "Fiscal year 2025/26 (April 2025 to March 2026)",
  "period_start": "2025-04-01",
  "period_end": "2026-03-31",
  "comparison": {
    "previous_period": "Fiscal year 2024/25",
    "previous_value": 7,
    "change_percent": -15.7
  },
  "p90": 28.1,
  "p90_previous": 30.4,
  "trend": "improving",
  "trend_basis": "Royal Jubilee: 5.9 weeks in 2025/26 compared with 7 weeks in 2024/25 (-15.7%); 90% within 28.1 weeks. Victoria General: 7 weeks (90% within 35.1). Island Health: 7.1 weeks (90% within 31.4; was 32.6). B.C.: 6 weeks (90% within 30.6).",
  "direction_good": "down",
  "right_direction": "A lower number means people wait fewer weeks between a surgery being booked and taking place.",
  "caveats": [
    "This is scheduled (elective) surgery only. It is not emergency department wait time, which is a different measure.",
    "The wait is the median for surgeries that were completed in the year: half of those patients waited less, half waited more. People still waiting are not in this number; see the waiting count in the detail.",
    "The headline is Royal Jubilee Hospital. Victoria General Hospital is shown beside it; Island Health (all its hospitals, across the island and part of the mainland coast) and all of B.C. are comparison lines.",
    "The Ministry restates this dataset when reporting requirements change, so past years can be revised.",
    "The chart shows every fiscal year in the Ministry's annual file, from 2009/10. The Ministry restates the whole file to its current reporting requirements, so the years are on one basis."
  ],
  "breakdown": [
    {
      "label": "Royal Jubilee Hospital",
      "value": 5.9,
      "display_value": "5.9 weeks",
      "previous_value": 7,
      "period": "Fiscal year 2025/26",
      "detail": "90% of people had surgery within 28.1 weeks; 3,976 people waiting at year end; 14,532 surgeries completed."
    },
    {
      "label": "Victoria General Hospital",
      "value": 7,
      "display_value": "7 weeks",
      "previous_value": 7.9,
      "period": "Fiscal year 2025/26",
      "detail": "90% of people had surgery within 35.1 weeks; 3,438 people waiting at year end; 8,131 surgeries completed."
    },
    {
      "label": "Island Health (all hospitals)",
      "value": 7.1,
      "display_value": "7.1 weeks",
      "previous_value": 7.9,
      "period": "Fiscal year 2025/26",
      "detail": "90% of people had surgery within 31.4 weeks; 19,457 people waiting at year end; 58,424 surgeries completed."
    },
    {
      "label": "All of B.C.",
      "value": 6,
      "display_value": "6 weeks",
      "previous_value": 6.3,
      "period": "Fiscal year 2025/26",
      "detail": "90% of people had surgery within 30.6 weeks; 97,963 people waiting at year end; 289,315 surgeries completed."
    }
  ],
  "series": [
    {
      "period": "2009/10",
      "value": 4.9
    },
    {
      "period": "2010/11",
      "value": 5.1
    },
    {
      "period": "2011/12",
      "value": 6.3
    },
    {
      "period": "2012/13",
      "value": 6.6
    },
    {
      "period": "2013/14",
      "value": 6.9
    },
    {
      "period": "2014/15",
      "value": 8.6
    },
    {
      "period": "2015/16",
      "value": 9.3
    },
    {
      "period": "2016/17",
      "value": 9
    },
    {
      "period": "2017/18",
      "value": 8.4
    },
    {
      "period": "2018/19",
      "value": 7.1
    },
    {
      "period": "2019/20",
      "value": 7.1
    },
    {
      "period": "2020/21",
      "value": 7.4
    },
    {
      "period": "2021/22",
      "value": 5.6
    },
    {
      "period": "2022/23",
      "value": 6.4
    },
    {
      "period": "2023/24",
      "value": 7
    },
    {
      "period": "2024/25",
      "value": 7
    },
    {
      "period": "2025/26",
      "value": 5.9
    }
  ],
  "charts": [
    {
      "title": "Median wait for scheduled surgery (weeks)",
      "fmt": "dec1",
      "unit": "weeks",
      "lines": [
        {
          "name": "Royal Jubilee",
          "area": "vichosp",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2009/10",
              "value": 4.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2010/11",
              "value": 5.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2011/12",
              "value": 6.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2012/13",
              "value": 6.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2013/14",
              "value": 6.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2014/15",
              "value": 8.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2015/16",
              "value": 9.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2016/17",
              "value": 9
            },
            {
              "period": "2017/18",
              "value": 8.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2018/19",
              "value": 7.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2019/20",
              "value": 7.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2020/21",
              "value": 7.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2021/22",
              "value": 5.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2022/23",
              "value": 6.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2023/24",
              "value": 7
            },
            {
              "period": "2024/25",
              "value": 7
            },
            {
              "period": "2025/26",
              "value": 5.9
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "Victoria General",
          "area": "vichosp",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2009/10",
              "value": 5.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2010/11",
              "value": 6
            },
            {
              "period": "2011/12",
              "value": 6.7
            },
            {
              "period": "2012/13",
              "value": 6.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2013/14",
              "value": 6.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2014/15",
              "value": 8
            },
            {
              "period": "2015/16",
              "value": 7.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2016/17",
              "value": 8
            },
            {
              "period": "2017/18",
              "value": 6.7
            },
            {
              "period": "2018/19",
              "value": 6.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2019/20",
              "value": 7
            },
            {
              "period": "2020/21",
              "value": 7.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2021/22",
              "value": 6.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2022/23",
              "value": 7
            },
            {
              "period": "2023/24",
              "value": 7.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2024/25",
              "value": 7.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2025/26",
              "value": 7
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "Island Health",
          "area": "island",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2009/10",
              "value": 5.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2010/11",
              "value": 6.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2011/12",
              "value": 7
            },
            {
              "period": "2012/13",
              "value": 6.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2013/14",
              "value": 7
            },
            {
              "period": "2014/15",
              "value": 8.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2015/16",
              "value": 8.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2016/17",
              "value": 8.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2017/18",
              "value": 8.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2018/19",
              "value": 8
            },
            {
              "period": "2019/20",
              "value": 7.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2020/21",
              "value": 7
            },
            {
              "period": "2021/22",
              "value": 6
            },
            {
              "period": "2022/23",
              "value": 7
            },
            {
              "period": "2023/24",
              "value": 7.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2024/25",
              "value": 7.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2025/26",
              "value": 7.1
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "All of B.C.",
          "area": "bc",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2009/10",
              "value": 5.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2010/11",
              "value": 5.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2011/12",
              "value": 5.7
            },
            {
              "period": "2012/13",
              "value": 5.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2013/14",
              "value": 5.7
            },
            {
              "period": "2014/15",
              "value": 6.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2015/16",
              "value": 7
            },
            {
              "period": "2016/17",
              "value": 7.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2017/18",
              "value": 7.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2018/19",
              "value": 7.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2019/20",
              "value": 7.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2020/21",
              "value": 6.7
            },
            {
              "period": "2021/22",
              "value": 5.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2022/23",
              "value": 6.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2023/24",
              "value": 6.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2024/25",
              "value": 6.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2025/26",
              "value": 6
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "90th percentile: 9 in 10 had surgery within (weeks)",
      "fmt": "dec1",
      "unit": "weeks",
      "lines": [
        {
          "name": "Royal Jubilee",
          "area": "vichosp",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2009/10",
              "value": 19.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2010/11",
              "value": 22.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2011/12",
              "value": 24.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2012/13",
              "value": 25.8
            },
            {
              "period": "2013/14",
              "value": 29.7
            },
            {
              "period": "2014/15",
              "value": 40.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2015/16",
              "value": 43
            },
            {
              "period": "2016/17",
              "value": 40
            },
            {
              "period": "2017/18",
              "value": 40.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2018/19",
              "value": 28.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2019/20",
              "value": 26.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2020/21",
              "value": 39.7
            },
            {
              "period": "2021/22",
              "value": 27.7
            },
            {
              "period": "2022/23",
              "value": 29.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2023/24",
              "value": 29.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2024/25",
              "value": 30.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2025/26",
              "value": 28.1
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "Victoria General",
          "area": "vichosp",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2009/10",
              "value": 20.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2010/11",
              "value": 25
            },
            {
              "period": "2011/12",
              "value": 26.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2012/13",
              "value": 27.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2013/14",
              "value": 31.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2014/15",
              "value": 35.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2015/16",
              "value": 34
            },
            {
              "period": "2016/17",
              "value": 31.2
            },
            {
              "period": "2017/18",
              "value": 30.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2018/19",
              "value": 24.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2019/20",
              "value": 26
            },
            {
              "period": "2020/21",
              "value": 37.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2021/22",
              "value": 27.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2022/23",
              "value": 32.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2023/24",
              "value": 35
            },
            {
              "period": "2024/25",
              "value": 37.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2025/26",
              "value": 35.1
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "Island Health",
          "area": "island",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2009/10",
              "value": 22.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2010/11",
              "value": 25
            },
            {
              "period": "2011/12",
              "value": 25.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2012/13",
              "value": 26.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2013/14",
              "value": 30.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2014/15",
              "value": 37.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2015/16",
              "value": 38.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2016/17",
              "value": 39.7
            },
            {
              "period": "2017/18",
              "value": 40.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2018/19",
              "value": 35.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2019/20",
              "value": 32.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2020/21",
              "value": 40.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2021/22",
              "value": 28.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2022/23",
              "value": 29.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2023/24",
              "value": 30.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2024/25",
              "value": 32.6
            },
            {
              "period": "2025/26",
              "value": 31.4
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "name": "All of B.C.",
          "area": "bc",
          "series": [
            {
              "period": "2009/10",
              "value": 24.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2010/11",
              "value": 25.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2011/12",
              "value": 26.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2012/13",
              "value": 26
            },
            {
              "period": "2013/14",
              "value": 27.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2014/15",
              "value": 30.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2015/16",
              "value": 32.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2016/17",
              "value": 32.7
            },
            {
              "period": "2017/18",
              "value": 33.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2018/19",
              "value": 32
            },
            {
              "period": "2019/20",
              "value": 31.1
            },
            {
              "period": "2020/21",
              "value": 38.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2021/22",
              "value": 28.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2022/23",
              "value": 30.4
            },
            {
              "period": "2023/24",
              "value": 30.3
            },
            {
              "period": "2024/25",
              "value": 30.9
            },
            {
              "period": "2025/26",
              "value": 30.6
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "source": {
    "name": "Ministry of Health, Government of British Columbia (BC Surgical Wait Times)",
    "url": "https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/7c1bf2a8-96bb-4ad5-888d-a90672eb306e/resource/6cd508eb-7e31-4c86-b070-dc698131fa9a/download/2009_2026-annual-surgical_wait_times.xlsx",
    "dataset_url": "https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/bc-surgical-wait-times",
    "download_url": "https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/7c1bf2a8-96bb-4ad5-888d-a90672eb306e/resource/6cd508eb-7e31-4c86-b070-dc698131fa9a/download/2009_2026-annual-surgical_wait_times.xlsx",
    "publisher_page": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/surgical-wait-times",
    "locator": "BC Surgical Wait Times annual file (Excel): Island Health, all procedures, fiscal year 2025/26, median wait (weeks)"
  },
  "licence": {
    "name": "Open Government Licence - British Columbia",
    "url": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content?id=A519A56BC2BF44E4A008B33FCF527F61"
  },
  "refresh_frequency": "Annually (quarterly interim files during the year)",
  "data_published": "2026-08-12",
  "retrieved_at": "2026-11-12T04:07:43Z",
  "licence_type": "open",
  "source_tier": 1,
  "measure_kind": "service result",
  "better_measure": null,
  "status_rule": {
    "rule": "One rule for every measure: a change smaller than 5% of the earlier value, or smaller than the agency's own margin of error, is “About the same”; no change is calculated across a marked break in a series; homelessness estimates, prices, staffing and comparison pages are shown for context without a label.",
    "reason": "The change is 15.7% of the earlier value, at or above the 5% threshold.",
    "threshold_percent": 5.0
  },
  "changes": {
    "year": {
      "period": "Fiscal year 2024/25",
      "value": 7,
      "text": "vs 2024/25: -15.7%"
    },
    "five_year": {
      "period": "2019/20",
      "years": 6,
      "value": 7.1,
      "comparable": true,
      "text": "vs 2019/20: −16.9%"
    }
  },
  "direction": {
    "type": "outcome",
    "rule": "Outcome measures read Better, Worse or About the same; published government targets read Ahead of, On or Behind target; value-judgement measures read Rising, Falling or Steady in a neutral colour. A change smaller than the agency's own margin of error, or otherwise smaller than 5% of the earlier value, is About the same (or Steady). No change is calculated across a marked break in a series.",
    "key": "better",
    "label": "Better",
    "arrow": "▼",
    "rel": -15.7,
    "delta": null,
    "vs": "Fiscal year 2024/25",
    "cur": "Fiscal year 2025/26 (April 2025 to March 2026)",
    "why": "The change is 15.7% of the earlier value, at or above the 5% threshold.",
    "change": "16%",
    "one_year": "−15.7%",
    "five": {
      "period": "2019/20",
      "comparable": true,
      "rel": -16.901408450704217,
      "years": 6,
      "base_2019": true,
      "replaced": "2020/21",
      "text": "−16.9%"
    },
    "five_replaced": {
      "period": "2020/21",
      "text": "−20.3%"
    }
  },
  "benchmark": {
    "rung": 5,
    "rung_name": "No target found",
    "as_of": "2026-11-12",
    "items": [
      {
        "kind": "none",
        "label": "No target found",
        "text": "No target for this measure found in the Ministry of Health 2026/27 to 2028/29 Service Plan (February 2026), as of November 12, 2026. Who could set one: the Province of B.C. and Island Health.",
        "area": "British Columbia",
        "source": {
          "title": "Ministry of Health 2026/27 to 2028/29 Service Plan",
          "publisher": "Province of B.C.",
          "date": "February 2026",
          "url": "https://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2026/sp/pdf/ministry/hlth.pdf",
          "terms": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/home/copyright",
          "refresh": "Yearly, with the provincial budget (February)",
          "licence": "Public document, not under an open licence. Quoted with attribution.",
          "checked": "2026-11-12",
          "key": "moh_sp"
        },
        "documents_checked": null
      },
      {
        "kind": "related",
        "label": "Related target",
        "text": "Related target, not drawn: the same plan aims for 70% of urgent surgeries to be done within four weeks in 2026/27, 72% in 2027/28 and 74% in 2028/29, for all of B.C. This page does not show that share.",
        "area": "British Columbia",
        "source": {
          "title": "Ministry of Health 2026/27 to 2028/29 Service Plan",
          "publisher": "Province of B.C.",
          "date": "February 2026",
          "url": "https://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2026/sp/pdf/ministry/hlth.pdf",
          "terms": "https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/home/copyright",
          "refresh": "Yearly, with the provincial budget (February)",
          "licence": "Public document, not under an open licence. Quoted with attribution.",
          "checked": "2026-11-12",
          "key": "moh_sp",
          "page": 10
        },
        "documents_checked": null
      },
      {
        "kind": "related",
        "label": "Related target",
        "text": "Related benchmark, not drawn: the national benchmark that the Canadian Institute for Health Information reports for hip and knee replacement is 26 weeks, counted from when the patient is ready for surgery. The B.C. file used here counts from when the health authority receives the booking form, so the two are not the same measure.",
        "area": "Canada",
        "source": {
          "title": "Wait times for hip replacement: percentage meeting benchmark",
          "publisher": "Canadian Institute for Health Information",
          "date": "viewed November 12, 2026",
          "url": "https://www.cihi.ca/en/indicators/wait-times-for-hip-replacement-percentage-meeting-benchmark",
          "terms": "https://www.cihi.ca/en/terms-of-use",
          "refresh": "Yearly",
          "licence": "Public document, not under an open licence. Quoted with attribution.",
          "checked": "2026-11-12",
          "key": "cihi_hip"
        },
        "documents_checked": null
      },
      {
        "kind": "compare",
        "label": "Comparison, not a goal",
        "area": null,
        "source": null,
        "documents_checked": null,
        "text": "The Island Health and All of B.C. lines are shown for comparison. They are not a goal."
      }
    ],
    "drawn": [],
    "rule": "Highest rung found is shown; the site never sets a target. Methods, Targets."
  },
  "benchmarks": [
    {
      "rung": 2,
      "kind": "related",
      "label": "Related target, not drawn: the same plan aims for 70% of urgent surgeries to be done within four weeks in 2026/27, 72% in 2027/28 and 74% in 2028/29, for all of B.C. This page does not show that share.",
      "short": null,
      "document": "moh_sp",
      "page": 10,
      "area": "British Columbia",
      "fit": "text_only",
      "same_area": false,
      "related_reason": "Different unit, definition, period or area; written under the chart, not drawn.",
      "document_url": "https://www.bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2026/sp/pdf/ministry/hlth.pdf",
      "applies_here": false,
      "same_measure": false
    },
    {
      "rung": 2,
      "kind": "related",
      "label": "Related benchmark, not drawn: the national benchmark that the Canadian Institute for Health Information reports for hip and knee replacement is 26 weeks, counted from when the patient is ready for surgery. The B.C. file used here counts from when the health authority receives the booking form, so the two are not the same measure.",
      "short": null,
      "document": "cihi_hip",
      "page": null,
      "area": "Canada",
      "fit": "text_only",
      "same_area": false,
      "related_reason": "Different unit, definition, period or area; written under the chart, not drawn.",
      "document_url": "https://www.cihi.ca/en/indicators/wait-times-for-hip-replacement-percentage-meeting-benchmark",
      "applies_here": false,
      "same_measure": false
    },
    {
      "rung": 4,
      "kind": "comparison",
      "label": "The Island Health and All of B.C. lines are shown for comparison. They are not a goal.",
      "fit": "full",
      "drawn": true,
      "area": null,
      "applies_here": false,
      "same_measure": true
    }
  ],
  "highest_rung": 4,
  "no_target_found": {
    "documents_checked": [
      "moh_sp"
    ],
    "checked_on": "2026-11-12",
    "who_could_set": [
      "Province of B.C. and Island Health"
    ]
  },
  "decided_by": [
    {
      "body": "BC",
      "name": "Province of B.C.",
      "decides": "Sets provincial standards for health services and appoints Island Health’s board.",
      "laws": [
        {
          "key": "haa3",
          "label": "Health Authorities Act, s. 3",
          "url": "https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96180_01#section3"
        },
        {
          "key": "haa4",
          "label": "Health Authorities Act, s. 4",
          "url": "https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96180_01#section4"
        }
      ],
      "last": null,
      "next": null
    },
    {
      "body": "IH",
      "name": "Island Health",
      "decides": "Plans and runs health services in the region: which services, which facilities and the programs that deliver them.",
      "laws": [
        {
          "key": "haa5",
          "label": "Health Authorities Act, s. 5",
          "url": "https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96180_01#section5"
        }
      ],
      "last": null,
      "next": null
    },
    {
      "body": "CAN",
      "name": "Government of Canada and Parliament",
      "decides": "Pays the Canada Health Transfer to the Province, on the conditions set in the Canada Health Act.",
      "laws": [
        {
          "key": "fpfaa",
          "label": "Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, Part V.1",
          "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/F-8/FullText.html"
        },
        {
          "key": "cha",
          "label": "Canada Health Act, s. 5 and 7",
          "url": "https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/c-6/FullText.html"
        }
      ],
      "last": null,
      "next": null
    }
  ],
  "main_decision_maker": "Province of B.C.",
  "label_1y": {
    "key": "better",
    "label": "Better"
  },
  "label_long": {
    "key": "better",
    "label": "Better",
    "years": 6,
    "change": "−16.9%"
  },
  "target_line": {
    "form": 4,
    "text": "No target found · B.C. 6.0 weeks",
    "target": null,
    "gap": null,
    "comparison": "B.C. 6.0 weeks",
    "applies_here": false,
    "note": null
  }
}