During the second quarter of 2019-20 (July 1 to September 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 74 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 attributed to the increase in wait times for cataract surgery. 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; only 57 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 74 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery and 71 per cent knee replacement within 182 days; and 97 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 253 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 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 Newfoundland and Labrador will report summary level data for all three levels combined. During this quarter, 100 per cent of 89 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 12 days; and the 90th percentile was 141 days. At the end of September 2019, 52 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 1,500 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, with nearly 800 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 70 per cent of first eye included cases were performed in 112 days; the median was 83 days; and the 90th percentile was 157 days. In the Central region, 50 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 112 days; and the 90th percentile was 141 days. In the Western region, 50 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 111 days; and the 90th percentile was 276 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, close to 140 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 64 per cent of 103 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 155 days; and the 90th percentile was 259 days. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 19 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark; the median was 82 days; and the 90th percentile was 150 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 12 hip replacements were completed within 182 days; the median was 78 days; and the 90th percentile was 127 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data for this quarter was suppressed.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, there were 252 knee joint replacement cases completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 62 per cent of 136 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 161 days; and the 90th percentile was 300 days. In the Central region, 71 per cent of 68 cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 124 days; and the 90th percentile was 303 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 39 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 86 days; and the 90th percentile was 160 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 89 per cent of 9 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 75 days; and the 90th percentile was 187 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. More than 100 hip fracture surgeries completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 96 per cent of 71 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 25 hours and the 90th percentile was 43 hours. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 25 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 17 hours and the 90th percentile was 28 hours. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 8 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 25 hours and the 90th percentile was 44 hours. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, no hip fracture surgeries were performed this quarter.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2019-20 Quarter 2: July 1 to September 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Second Quarter (July 1 – September 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 or hip fracture repair surgeries were performed this quarter.
Date: February 15, 2020