During the second quarter of 2021-2022 (July 1 to September 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 COVID-19 pandemic and associated reductions in health system capacity, on average only 43 per cent of residents received access to non-urgent cataract, hip and knee replacement benchmarked procedures. All or 99 per cent of patients commenced radiation treatment within 28 days; 88 per cent of cardiac bypass patients accessed surgery within the 182 day benchmark; 40 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 56 per cent of patients accessed hip replacement surgery and 42 per cent 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 269 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 reports summary level data for all three levels combined. During this quarter, 88 per cent of 95 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 15 days; and the 90th percentile was 218 days. At the end of September 2021, 103 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 1,100 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, with 594 cases on the first eye. In addition to this, 775 cataract cases were completed in the designated facilities in Corner Brook and St. John’s. In the Eastern region, 32 per cent of first eye cataract surgeries were completed in 112 days; the median was 165 days; and the 90th percentile was 311 days. In the Central region, 39 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 139 days; and the 90th percentile was 216 days. In the Western region, 97 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 41 days; and the 90th percentile was 80 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, no cataract surgeries were performed 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, 49 per cent of 90 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 184 days; and the 90th percentile was 413 days. In the Central region, 56 per cent of 13 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 142 days; and the 90th percentile was 278 days. In the Western region, 82 per cent of 30 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 71 days; and the 90th percentile was 248 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, 203 knee joint replacement surgeries were completed in the province. In the Eastern, 27 per cent of 111 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 251 days; and the 90th percentile was 613 days. In the Central region, 29 per cent of 34 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 306 days; and the 90th percentile was 708 days. In the Western region, 73 per cent of 53 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 91 days; and the 90th percentile was 276 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data was suppressed for this quarter.
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 55 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 21 hours and the 90th percentile was 42 hours. In the Central region, 95 per cent of 21 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 17 hours and the 90th percentile was 43 hours. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 21 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 20 hours and the 90th percentile was 32 hours. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, no hip fracture surgeries were performed this quarter.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2021-22 Quarter 2: July 1 to September 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Second Quarter (July 1 – September 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 |
|