New program brings surgeries closer to home, tackles wait-list

Working through the Kids Come First health team, this new program sees surgeries like a tonsillectomy and appendectomy conducted at the Carleton Place & District Memorial Hospital and the Brockville General Hospital approximately four times per month.  

Surgeries have begun at each hospital. The program aims to complete 300 surgeries by 2025, which brings much-needed surgical care closer to home for families. 

“Being able to perform surgeries locally helps in many ways. By leveraging the footprint of additional hospitals like Brockville and Carleton Place, we’re able to schedule more surgeries and finally address the long surgery wait-list,” said Dr. Jean-Philippe Vaccani, Chief of Surgery at CHEO.  

The initiative, supported by a historic investment by the Ontario government to CHEO last summer, helped 13-year-old Tianna van de Kamp get surgery closer to her home in Morrisburg, Ont. 

Tianna had osteochondroma – the most common noncancerous bone growth – on her lower leg. She needed surgery because the bone kept growing and the pain was getting worse. 

The drive to CHEO usually takes about an hour and 20 minutes, according to her mom Tania van de Kamp. When CHEO called to offer Tianna surgery in Brockville, the family jumped at the opportunity.  

The drive to Brockville was half the distance and Tianna got the surgery earlier than expected. 

“Shortening the drive by half was huge for her. Like, just to get her home and then recover that much faster,” said Tania. 

The initiative also plans to expand to complete more surgeries at more hospitals in eastern Ontario.  

“Kids develop quickly and we don’t want them waiting for surgery. We’re investing in programs to tackle long-standing issues, such as the surgical wait-list, that can make a huge difference for kids and families,” said Alex Munter, CHEO President and CEO.