During the first quarter of 2019-2020 (April 1 to June 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 80 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) received timely access to benchmark procedures within the recommended targets. This is a decrease compared the previous quarter’s results, which is primarily attributed to the increase in cataract and hip replacement wait times. All or 100 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 100 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery within the 182 day benchmark; 69 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 78 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery and 73 per cent knee replacement within 182 days; and 99 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 262 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 15 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 23 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 Newfoundland and Labrador reports summary level data for all three levels combined. During this quarter, 100 per cent of 85 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 8 days; and the 90th percentile was 150 days. At the end of June 2019, 48 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 1,520 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, with 773 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 71 per cent of first eye included cases were performed in 112 days; the median was 94 days; and the 90th percentile was 163 days. In the Central region, 72 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 93 days; and the 90th percentile was 132 days. In the Western region, 56 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 80 days; and the 90th percentile was 253 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, the itinerant specialists did not visit to perform cataract cases again this quarter.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 162 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 67 per cent of 96 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 129 days; and the 90th percentile was 267 days. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 25 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark; the median was 69 days; and the 90th percentile was 148 days. In the Western region, 92 per cent of 32 hip replacements were completed within 182 days; the median was 110 days; and the 90th percentile was 180 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of 9 hip replacements were completed within 182 days; the median was 55 days; and the 90th percentile was 113 days.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, there were 294 knee joint replacement cases completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 68 per cent of 165 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 147 days; and the 90th percentile was 262 days. In the Central region, 67 per cent of 64 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 121 days; and the 90th percentile was 377 days. In the Western region, 93 per cent of 56 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 128 days; and the 90th percentile was 175 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of 9 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 107 days; and the 90th percentile was 139 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. Close to 100 hip fracture surgeries completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 98 per cent of 63 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 24 hours and the 90th percentile was 42 hours. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 19 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 14 hours and the 90th percentile was 27 hours. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 8 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 19 hours and the 90th percentile was 24 hours. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data was suppressed for this quarter.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2019-20 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30
| Service Area< | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – First Quarter (April 1 – June 30, 2019) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 and Central Regional Health Authorities are working to address this. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, no (NV) cataract surgeries were performed and hip fracture repair data is suppressed (DS) due to the low number of surgeries completed this quarter.
Date: November 15, 2019