Thousands of patients with multiple sclerosis in England will gain access to fampridine, a pill shown to improve walking ability, following its official rollout on the NHS. Meanwhile, in British Columbia, patients face a separate, deepening crisis as surgical backlogs leave thousands waiting years for essential orthopedic procedures.
Fampridine Access for MS Patients in England
For the estimated 120,000 people living with multiple sclerosis in England, the introduction of fampridine on the NHS marks a significant shift in treatment options. The drug, which acts as a signal-boosting pill, aims to assist patients who struggle with mobility. According to reporting from the BBC, approximately 5,000 people annually are expected to meet the eligibility criteria, which are strictly based on the severity of a patient’s walking difficulties.
The implementation follows a clinical trial process where patients will test the medication for up to a month. Only those who demonstrate a clear benefit
will be permitted to continue the prescription. For many, the prospect of improved mobility is life-changing.
“Even a modest improvement could mean getting around the house more easily, going out with greater confidence and living more independently.”
The Surgical Backlog Crisis in British Columbia
While patients in England see new doors opening, thousands in British Columbia are grappling with a severe shortage of surgical capacity. As of March 31, 2022, provincial data cited by CBC News indicated that 8,315 patients were waiting for knee surgery alone. Orthopedic surgeons have labeled the situation a surgical crisis,
driven by staffing shortages and limited hospital capacity.
The impact on patients is profound. Amber Nurse, an educational assistant from Fort St. John, found herself placed on a two-year wait list for knee surgery. This is enough. I have to get it done,
she said. The backlog is not evenly distributed; regions such as Prince George, Kamloops, and the Lower Mainland are experiencing the longest delays. In Kamloops, wait lists for orthopedic surgery have surged by 40 to 50 per cent over the last two years, according to Dr. Scott Hughes, an orthopedic surgeon at Royal Inland Hospital.
For more on this story, see Fampridine Now Available On NHS England.
Structural Shortfalls and Capacity Challenges
The crisis in British Columbia stems from a combination of chronic understaffing and the strain of the pandemic, which forced disproportionate closures of elective and non-urgent surgical services. Dr. Cassandra Lane Dielwart, president-elect of the British Columbia Orthopaedic Association, noted that patients are bearing the brunt of these delays through job losses, pain, and depression.
Dr. Dave Nelson, an orthopedic surgeon at the University Hospital of Northern B.C., points to a lack of physical infrastructure, specifically a shortage of beds and limited operating space, as primary obstacles in the northern and interior regions. To address these gaps, the provincial government has initiated plans to expand capacity. This includes the purchase of two private surgical facilities—the View Royal Surgical Centre in Victoria and the Seafield Surgical Centre in Nanaimo—to integrate them into the public system at a cost of $11.5 million.
Unresolved Questions for Patients
Despite these interventions, the path forward remains uncertain. Meanwhile, in British Columbia, policy experts like Andrew Longhurst have suggested that deeper systemic changes, such as referring patients to surgical groups rather than individual surgeons, may be necessary to increase efficiency.
For patients like Buck Shannon, who has faced multiple cancellations for his knee and shoulder replacements, the promise of future capacity does little to alleviate current suffering. As the government works to finalize the acquisition of new surgical centers, the question remains whether these measures can sufficiently reduce the backlog to prevent patients from waiting years for life-altering operations.
