During the first quarter of 2021-2022 (April 1 to June 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 96 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 necessary health system service reductions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, on average only 46 per cent of residents received access to non-urgent cataract, hip and knee replacement benchmarked procedures. All or 99 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 85 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery within the 182 day benchmark; 43 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 58 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery; 46 per cent accessed knee replacement surgery within 182 days; and 100 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 307 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, 85 per cent of 100 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 9 days; and the 90th percentile was 273 days. At the end of June 2021, 106 patients was waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province, including 41 who are waiting beyond the national benchmark.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 1,240 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, with 688 cases on the first eye. In addition to this, nearly 1,000 cataract cases were completed in the designated facilities in Corner Brook and St. John’s. In the Eastern region, 26 per cent of first eye cataract surgeries were completed in 112 days; the median was 190 days; and the 90th percentile was 324 days. In the Central region, 58 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 92 days; and the 90th percentile was 174 days. In the Western region, 91 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 48 days; and the 90th percentile was 107 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 53 days; and the 90th percentile was 97 days.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, close to 130 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 46 per cent of 115 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 195 days; and the 90th percentile was 533 days. In the Central region, 67 per cent of 23 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 128 days; and the 90th percentile was 264 days. In the Western region, 96 per cent of 34 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 67 days; and the 90th percentile was 139 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, 214 knee joint replacement cases were completed in the province. In the Eastern, 29 per cent of 181 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 277 days; and the 90th percentile was 603 days. In the Central region, 46 per cent of 57 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 251 days; and the 90th percentile was 463 days. In the Western region, 93 per cent of 74 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 100 days; and the 90th percentile was 156 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 80 per cent of 10 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 101 days; and the 90th percentile was 106 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. Close to 80 hip fracture surgeries completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 100 per cent of 54 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 26 hours and the 90th percentile was 42 hours. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 20 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 8 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 25 hours and the 90th percentile was 33 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
2021-22 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – First Quarter (April 1 – June 30, 2021) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 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: October 29, 2021