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Gallbladder Surgery Wait Times in Ontario (2025)

Gallbladder surgery wait times can be long for Ontario residents. Long wait times can prolong discomfort and pain for patients, and increase the risk of complications.

⬇️  Scroll down to compare hospitals by expected wait time. Always verify the current expected wait times with your primary care physician or referred specialist.

Gallbladder surgery, also known as a cholecystectomy, is a medical procedure to remove the gallbladder, a small organ that stores bile and is located in the upper right abdomen.

Wait 1 is defined as the time between a patient receiving a referral from a primary care physician and their specialist consultation. Wait 2 is defined as the time between the decision to proceed with surgery and the surgery itself.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Gallbladder removal surgery, medically known as cholecystectomy, in Ontario is a procedure to remove the gallbladder, typically due to gallstones causing pain or infection. This surgery is a common response to gallbladder disease, which can lead to severe abdominal pain, nausea, and other digestive problems. The primary aim is to alleviate these symptoms and prevent future complications, such as gallstone pancreatitis.

In Ontario, gallbladder removal is accessible through the public healthcare system, with costs covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) for eligible residents. This ensures that patients can receive necessary surgical care without worrying about direct expenses. The eligibility for the surgery is determined based on medical necessity, assessed through diagnostic tests such as ultrasound or CT scans, which confirm the presence of gallstones or other gallbladder issues.

Patients preparing for gallbladder removal in Ontario typically undergo a pre-operative assessment, including a review of their medical history and a physical examination to ensure they are fit for surgery. The procedure is most commonly performed laparoscopically, known as a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This minimally invasive approach involves making small incisions through which surgical tools and a camera are inserted, allowing the surgeon to remove the gallbladder with minimal disruption to surrounding tissues.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy offers several benefits, including reduced pain, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery times compared to open surgery, where a larger incision is made. Most patients are able to go home the same day or the following day after surgery, though recovery times can vary based on individual health factors and the complexity of the surgery.

After the surgery, patients receive guidance on recovering at home, including pain management, caring for incisions, and gradually resuming normal activities. Dietary adjustments may be recommended to help the digestive system adapt to the absence of the gallbladder, although many people can return to their regular diet over time.

Ontario hospitals with shortest gallbladder removal surgery wait times

Below are five top hospitals in Ontario which have the shortest gallbladder removal surgery wait times:

  • 🥇  Scarborough Health Network – Birchmount: This hospital boasts the shortest wait times for gallbladder removal surgery in Ontario, with an average wait of just 7 weeks. An impressive 95% of patients receive their surgery within the established target time.
  • 🥈  Markham Stouffville Hospital: Ranking second for the shortest wait times, the Markham Stouffville Hospital reports an average wait of 12 weeks for gallbladder removal surgery. Approximately 88% of patients receive treatment within the expected timeframe.
  • 🥉  Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital: This hospital secures the third position in wait times, with an average wait of 18 weeks for gallbladder removal surgery. Approximately 89% of patients receive treatment within the target time.
  • Humber River Health – Wilson Site: This hospital ranks fourth in the list of hospitals with short wait times for gallbladder removal surgery, with an average wait of 18 weeks. A commendable 88% of patients receive treatment within the established target time.
  • North York General Hospital: The North York General Hospital ranks fifth for the shortest wait times in Ontario for gallbladder removal surgery, with an average wait of 19 weeks. An impressive 70% of patients receive treatment within the target time.

Ontario hospitals with longest gallbladder removal surgery wait times

Below are five top hospitals in Ontario which have the longest gallbladder removal surgery wait times:

  • Hamilton General Hospital: This hospital reports the longest wait times for gallbladder removal surgery in Ontario, with an extensive average wait of 66 weeks. Unfortunately, no patients receive treatment within the established target time.
  • Guelph General Hospital: Guelph General Hospital secures the third position in wait times, with an average wait of 51 weeks for gallbladder removal surgery. Only 18% of patients receive treatment within the target time.
  • Joseph Brant Hospital: This hospital ranks fourth for the longest wait times, reporting an average wait of 47 weeks for gallbladder removal surgery. Approximately 32% of patients receive treatment within the established target time.
  • Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital: The Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital ranks fifth for the longest wait times in Ontario for gallbladder removal surgery, also with an average wait of 47 weeks. Approximately 49% of patients receive treatment within the target time.

How to interpret wait times

Emergency cases (Priority 1) receive immediate attention and are not included in wait time data. Priority 1 patients are those who face a life-threatening situation if the surgery is not performed immediately.

Surgeons, specialists, and healthcare administrators establish priority levels 2, 3, and 4, along with target times, using clinical evidence to guide treatment decisions and enhance patient access and outcomes.

For the above chart, we only display wait times for Priority 4 because data for priority levels 2 and 3 is generally incomplete.

For surgery wait times, two wait periods are assessed:

  • Time to the patient’s first surgical or specialist appointment: This measures the duration from the moment a surgeon, specialist, or central intake office receives the referral from the patient’s family doctor to the patient’s initial surgical or specialist appointment.
  • Time from the decision for the surgery or procedure to its actual completion: This tracks the time from when the patient and surgeon jointly decide to proceed with the surgery to the surgery’s actual execution.

Data also excludes patients who did not proceed with the surgery or procedure after their initial consultation with a specialist.

Learn wait times for other medical procedures in Ontario:

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