P.E.I. couple borrows $25,000 for hip surgery in Montreal after long wait
Hip replacement wait times push P.E.I. couple to borrow for surgery in Montreal See why they paid $25,000 privately and what it says about public wait lists
A Prince Edward Island couple says they borrowed $25,000 to pay for a hip replacement in Montreal after being told the public wait could stretch many more months.
Neil Payne of Kinkora had been dealing with severe hip pain caused by osteoarthritis and had already waited about nine months when he learned he might need to wait another 12 to 15 months for surgery on P.E.I. His wife, Janet, said they decided they could not keep waiting because the pain and mobility loss were taking a toll on his health and daily life.
The couple arranged treatment at a private clinic in Montreal and used a line of credit to cover the cost, including extra payment for an overnight stay after the operation. Janet said the clinic helped coordinate preop testing locally, and Neil was able to travel home the next day. Health P.E.I. said wait times remain longer than national standards, but some recent measures are helping increase surgical volume and improve access.