During the first quarter of 2018-2019 (April 1 to June 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 90 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) received timely access to benchmark procedures within the recommended targets, which is on par with the previous quarter’s results. All or 100 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 100 per cent of all cardiac bypass patients had surgery within 131 days; 88 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 94 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery and 78 per cent knee replacement within 182 days; and 98 per cent of hip fracture surgeries were performed within 48 hours.
Curative Radiotherapy
The national benchmark for radiation treatment is 28 days. During this quarter, 100 per cent of 196 newly diagnosed cancer patients began radiation treatment within the 28 day benchmark. The time in which half (or the median) of these patients waited to begin treatment was 14 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 21 days.
Cardiac Bypass Surgery
The national benchmark has three tiers: Level 1 within 14 days; Level 2 within 42 days; and Level 3 within 182 days. Nationally, cardiac bypass surgery benchmark data according to the three urgency levels is not comparable, therefore NL will report summary level data for all three levels combined. During this quarter, 100 per cent of 83 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within 131 days, which is much sooner than the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 5 days; and the 90th percentile was 58 days. At the end of June 2018, 42 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Around 1,500 cataract cases were completed in the province this quarter, including more than 800 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 85 per cent of first eye included cases were performed in 112 days; the median was 77 days; and the 90th percentile was 123 days. In the Central region, 91 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 83 days; and the 90th percentile was 111 days. In the Western region, 92 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 55 days; and the 90th percentile was 83 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, the itinerant specialists did not visit to perform cataract cases this quarter.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, there were 161 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 95 per cent of 107 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 90 days; and the 90th percentile was 167 days. In the Central region, 92 per cent of 27 cases were completed in 182 days; the median was 92 days; and the 90th percentile was 145 days. In the Western region, 91 per cent of 18 hip replacements were completed within 182 days; the median was 100 days; and the 90th percentile was 154 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of 9 hip replacements were completed within 182 days; the median was 89 days; and the 90th percentile was 160 days.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, there were 295 knee joint replacement cases completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 80 per cent of 172 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 126 days; and the 90th percentile was 228 days. In the Central region, 67 per cent of 69 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 129 days; and the 90th percentile was 279 days. In the Western region, 76 per cent of 42 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 122 days; and the 90th percentile was 208 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 91 per cent of 12 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 74 days; and the 90th percentile was 179 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. There were 112 hip fracture surgeries completed in the province this quarter. In the Eastern region, 98 per cent of 83 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 24 hours and 52 minutes and the 90th percentile was 42 hours and 22 minutes. In the Central region, 85 per cent of 21 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median was 12 hours and 3 minutes; and the 90th percentile was 66 hours and 40 minutes. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 8 hip fracture surgeries were completed in less than 48 hours; the median wait was 27 hours and 55 minutes and the 90th percentile was 29 hours and 54 minutes. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data for this quarter was suppressed.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2018-19 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30
| Service Area< | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – First Quarter (April 1 – June 30, 2018) |
|---|---|---|
| Curative Radiotherapy | Within 4 weeks (28 days) of being ready to treat. |
|
| Coronary Bypass Surgery (CABG) | Level 1 Within 2 weeks (14 days) |
|
| Level 2 Within 6 weeks (42 days) | ||
| Level 3 Within 26 weeks (182 days) | ||
| Cataract | Within 16 weeks (112 days) for patients who are at high risk. |
|
| Hip Replacement | Within 26 weeks (182 days) |
|
| Knee Replacement | Within 26 weeks (182 days) |
|
| Hip Fracture Repair | Fixation within 48 hours |
|
Data Source: Regional Health Authorities (RHAs), Newfoundland and Labrador.
Notes: In keeping with data standards, outliers or cases that do not comply with the standard wait time definitions are excluded from cataract wait time calculations and Eastern Regional Health Authority is working to address this. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, no (NV) cataract surgeries were performed this quarter.
Date: January 30, 2019