FOI reveals number of Northern Health patients who died on waitlists from 2024-25

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A report suggests at least 80 patients in the Northern Health region died while on medical waitlists over the past fiscal year.

The report, released on November 26th by public policy think tank SecondStreet.org, says around 23,746 Canadians died while waiting for surgeries or diagnostic imaging between April 1st, 2024 and March 31st, 2025. 

In B.C., the total was 4,620 deaths, including 80 in regions covered by Northern Health. Of the 80 deaths, 63 were patients awaiting surgery, while 17 were awaiting diagnostic imaging.

The numbers were collected through freedom of information (FOI) requests filed with health authorities across the country. The report does not identify causes of death.

According to data obtained from SecondStreet.org’s FOI request, of the 17 patients who died awaiting diagnostic imaging exams, one was a patient of Fort St. John Hospital (awaiting x-ray exam) and two were patients of Dawson Creek and District Hospital (awaiting CT scan and ultrasound exams).

In a statement to Energeticcity.ca, Northern Health said it recognizes the strain that waitlists place on patients but cautioned against assuming deaths occurred because of delays.

“It is not possible to directly correlate waitlists for surgery and medical imaging with deaths,” the health authority said. “In many cases, the procedure or test and the cause of death may be completely unrelated.”

According to Northern Health, 44 per cent of local patients who died while awaiting surgery last year were scheduled for “non-urgent” cataract procedures, while 22 per cent were waiting for “non-urgent” knee replacements.

The types of procedures patients were awaiting can be seen in records obtained from SecondStreet.org’s FOI request.

The health authority also said imaging requests for patients requiring emergency care continue to be prioritized.

In its statement, Northern Health highlighted several initiatives aimed at reducing wait times, including using new artificial intelligence tools to speed up MRI scans, extending CT scan hours and expanding its mobile ultrasound program, which brings sonographers to rural communities instead of requiring patients to travel.

Peace River North MLA Jordan Kealy told Energeticcity.ca the report reflects ongoing challenges in rural healthcare, adding that long waits can leave patients with few options.

“It’s very saddening when I hear this scenario where someone actually dies while waiting for care,” Kealy said. “My own mother-in-law was waiting to see a heart specialist when she had a heart attack and died.”

Kealy also pointed to his wife’s experience, saying she waited four years for neck surgery that was ultimately ineffective. 

A second procedure was estimated to require another three-year wait, he said, prompting the family to consider paying $80,000 for treatment abroad.

He said many British Columbians feel forced to look outside the province, and sometimes the country, for timely care.

Northern Health says it is continuing to recruit specialists, expand operating room capacity and streamline surgical waitlists to meet rising demand.

Following SecondStreet.org’s report, Northern Health’s response to Energeticcity.ca’s FOI request regarding medical specialists and vacancies in the Peace region revealed there are eight specialist vacancies in Fort St. John and Dawson Creek posted between 2020 and 2025.

The full SecondStreet.org report can be viewed below.