During the first quarter of 2020-2021 (April 1 to June 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 98 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) received timely access to radiation, cardiac bypass and hip fracture repair benchmark procedures within the recommended targets. However, as result of the COVID-19 pandemic on average only 53 per cent of residents received access to non-urgent cataract, hip and knee replacement benchmarked procedures. 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; 48 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 71 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery; a small per cent accessed knee replacement surgery within 182 days; and 93 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 263 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 16 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 22 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 41 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 3 days; and the 90th percentile was 15 days. At the end of June 2020, 69 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province, including 19 who are waiting beyond the national benchmark.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 80 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, with 27 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, no first eye cataract surgeries were performed this quarter, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Central region, 56 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 107 days; and the 90th percentile was 238 days. In the Western region, 30 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 192 days; and the 90th percentile was 232 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data was suppressed for this quarter.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 10 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 67 per cent of 9 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 145 days; and the 90th percentile was 223 days. In the Central region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data was suppressed for this quarter. In the Western and Labrador Grenfell region, no hip replacement surgeries were performed this quarter, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, there were 6 knee joint replacement cases completed in the province. In the Eastern, Central and Western region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data was suppressed for this quarter. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, no knee replacement surgeries were performed this quarter, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. Close to 88 hip fracture surgeries completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 88 per cent of 50 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 27 hours and the 90th percentile was 49 hours. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 17 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 19 hours and the 90th percentile was 44 hours. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 17 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 25 hours and the 90th percentile was 45 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
2020-21 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30
| Service Area< | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – First Quarter (April 1 – June 30, 2020) |
|---|---|---|
| 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: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic non-urgent cataract, hip and knee replacement surgeries were postponed. As a result, wait time data shows that no surgeries (NV) were performed in some areas and data are suppressed (DS) due to the low number of surgeries completed in other areas. 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 Regional Health Authorities are working to address this.
Date: January 15, 2021