Hello St. Paul’s Sinus Centre team,
I noticed that your website references balloon sinuplasty as a treatment option, yet it appears this procedure is not actually available anywhere in British Columbia. This is surprising, especially given that balloon sinuplasty is routinely offered in Alberta, Ontario, and widely across the United States.
Could you please clarify why this minimally invasive, lower-risk, and often cost-effective procedure is not accessible to patients here in BC? For many of us, the alternative—traditional sinus surgery involving bone and tissue removal—feels unnecessarily aggressive, especially when safer options exist.
Is the issue related to funding, equipment, training, or policy? Or is there a broader systemic barrier preventing BC patients from accessing this care? I know many patients, myself included, who would be willing to pay privately for balloon sinuplasty if it were offered locally.
It’s disheartening to see BC lag behind other provinces and countries in offering modern, patient-centered sinus care. I hope the Centre can shed some light on this gap and whether there are any plans to make balloon sinuplasty available in the near future.
Thank you for your time and for the important work you do.
Warm regards,