During the second quarter of 2020-2021 (July 1 to September 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 97 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 33 per cent of residents received access to non-urgent cataract, hip and knee replacement benchmarked procedures. Almost all or 99 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 93 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery within the 182 day benchmark; 35 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 42 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery; 18 per cent of residents accessed knee replacement surgery 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, 99 per cent of 265 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, 93 per cent of 71 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 15 days; and the 90th percentile was 126 days. At the end of September 2020, 76 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province, including 39 who are waiting beyond the national benchmark.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 1,300 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, with 660 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 34 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 183 days; and the 90th percentile was 248 days. In the Central region, 27 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 205 days; and the 90th percentile was 343 days. In the Western region, 41 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 201 days; and the 90th percentile was 547 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 63 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 33 days; and the 90th percentile was 229 days.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 153 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 38 per cent of 109 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 226 days; and the 90th percentile was 419 days. In the Central region, 71 per cent of 17 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 157 days; and the 90th percentile was 206 days. In the Western region, 46 per cent of 24 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 196 days; and the 90th percentile was 311 days. In the Labrador Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data was suppressed for this quarter.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, there were 226 knee joint replacement cases completed in the province. In the Eastern, 13 per cent of 150 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 304 days; and the 90th percentile was 464 days. In the Central region, 19 per cent of 30 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 380 days; and the 90th percentile was 425 days. In the Western region, 50 per cent of 34 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 180 days; and the 90th percentile was 325 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 30 per cent of 11 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 223 days; and the 90th percentile was 326 days.
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, 98 per cent of 64 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 27 hours and the 90th percentile was 47 hours. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 14 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 17 hours and the 90th percentile was 27 hours. In the Western region, 88 per cent of 10 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 24 hours and the 90th percentile was 49 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 2: July 1 to September 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Second Quarter (July 1 – September 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: During the COVID-19 pandemic, wait time data shows that data are suppressed (DS) due to the low number of surgeries completed in some 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: June 22, 2021