Surgical and Endoscopy Community Partnerships Program
The Surgical and Endoscopy Community Partnerships Program (SCP) aims to reduce wait times for paediatric surgical and endoscopy procedures at SickKids and facilitate timely access to high-quality paediatric surgical care for patients and families.
The SCP is co-led by SickKids and Ontario Health Toronto Region, and supported by six community hospital partners across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) who work collaboratively with participating SickKids surgical services.
Program impact
Progam outcomes from 2024-2025 fiscal year
In the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the SCP facilitated the transition of 727 paediatric surgical and endoscopy cases to a community hospital partner. Along with other departmental initiatives, the success of this program supported a 10 per cent reduction in the SickKids surgical waitlist.
Patient and family experience survey data
“The procedure was done quicker than expected, I thought we were going to wait a very long painful 2-4 years for the surgery. Thanks for the referral.”
“Faster service and very capable doctors and nurses. Doctors care is good. The experience was an eye opener for the family... these referral institutions are well equipped with experienced medical professionals who are willing to provide any medical care or assistance.”
“My whole family felt seen, heard and treated with so much kindness and respect. Excellent patient care.”
“We had an excellent experience and were very impressed with all of the staff - our surgeon, the anaesthesiologist and the nursing staff were all so helpful, professional and ensured everything went smoothly.”
"Fantastic follow up and great care has been taken to alleviate any concerns.”
90 per cent of families indicated they were satisfied or very satisfied with the Surgical and Endoscopy Community Partnerships Program
86 per cent of families would recommend this program to other patients and families
We will contact you if your child’s case meets the criteria for our program. If you would like to be contacted by this program to potentially expedite your child's surgery, please contact your SickKids surgical team to ask about the Surgical and Endoscopy Community Partnerships Program.
In most cases, it will not be a SickKids surgeon completing the procedure at a community hospital partner.
The surgical teams at SickKids collaborate closely with community-based surgeons and hospitals who are skilled in paediatric care and are trusted in taking on these surgical cases.
The average wait time for surgery at a community hospital partner after receiving a referral through this program is approximately three to six months. Please note that this is an estimate and may vary depending on circumstances, with occasional delays possible.
Once you have completed your consultation with a partner hospital and your child’s case has been accepted by their team with a plan for care, your case will be removed from the SickKids wait list.
Yes, all of the surgeons we partner with have paediatric surgical experience and complete paediatric surgeries in their own practice.
Yes, many of our community hospital partners include Child Life Specialists in their care planning and the multidisciplinary teams regularly provide paediatric care.
No. Our program aims to identify low-acuity, low-complexity surgical and endoscopy cases that can safely be performed at a community hospital partner sites.
Yes, it is safe for your child to have their surgery at a community hospital partner. The surgical teams at SickKids closely collaborate with community-based surgeons and hospitals who are skilled in paediatric care and are trusted in taking on these surgical cases.
Your child will receive any required follow-up care from the surgical team at a community hospital partner.
It is difficult to provide exact estimates; however, most of the surgical departments at SickKids that are participating in this program currently have a two year or longer wait time for surgical booking. For more details about the wait time for your child’s specific surgical wait time, please refer to your surgical team.
For health-care providers
Who are the community hospital partners participating in this program and what services are included?
- Scarborough Health Network (SHN): Urology, Plastics, Orthopaedics, Opthalmology, Dentistry
- Trillium Health Partners (THP): Urology, Opthalmology
- Michael Garron Hospital (MGH): Urology, Endoscopy
- North York General Hospital (NYGH): Urology
- St. Joseph's Health Centre (SJHC): Plastics, Orthopaedics
Disclaimer: the list of community hospital partners and services is subject to change. For further information, please reach out to surgical.partnerships@sickkids.ca.
Healthcare Quarterly, October 2025
Pediatric surgical care helps get young hockey players back on the ice
Hospital News, August 7, 2025
New SickKids Surgeon-in-Chief is successfully tackling the surgical backlog
CBC Metro Morning - June 3, 2024
SickKids lowers surgery backlog through successful new partnership with nearby hospitals
The Globe and Mail - May 27, 2024
