During the third quarter of 2021-2022 (October 1 to December 31), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 94 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 ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and October cyber incident on average only 39 per cent of residents received access to non-urgent cataract, hip and knee replacement benchmarked procedures. Almost all or 95 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 87 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery within the 182 day benchmark; 36 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 56 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery; 39 per cent accessed knee replacement surgery within 182 days; and 99 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, 95 per cent of 235 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 18 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 27 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, 87 per cent of 89 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 10 days; and the 90th percentile was 248 days. At the end of December 2021, 98 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province, including 48 who are waiting beyond the national benchmark.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 1,000 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, with 615 cases on the first eye. In addition to this, 1,121 cataract cases were completed in the non-designated facilities in Corner Brook and St. John’s, with 585 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 35 per cent of first eye cataract surgeries were completed in 112 days; the median was 186 days; and the 90th percentile was 353 days. In the Central region, 29 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 141 days; and the 90th percentile was 182 days. In the Western region, 97 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 32 days; and the 90th percentile was 93 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, 38 per cent of 90 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 275 days; and the 90th percentile was 482 days. In the Central region, 75 per cent of 24 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 128 days; and the 90th percentile was 359 days. In the Western region, 75 per cent of 22 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 157 days; and the 90th percentile was 263 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, 206 knee joint replacement cases were completed in the province. In the Eastern, 25 per cent of 99 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 314 days; and the 90th percentile was 700 days. In the Central region, 14 per cent of 50 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 289 days; and the 90th percentile was 661 days. In the Western region, 69 per cent of 46 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 127 days; and the 90th percentile was 218 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of 11 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 109 days; and the 90th percentile was 166 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. Close to 120 hip fracture surgeries completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 100 per cent of 80 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 20 hours and the 90th percentile was 25 hours. In the Central region, 84 per cent of 20 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 18 hours and the 90th percentile was 69 hours. In the Western region, 93 per cent of 16 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 24 hours and the 90th percentile was 40 hours. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, no hip fracture surgeries were performed this quarter.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2021-22 Quarter 3: October 1 to December 31
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – First Quarter (October 1 – December 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 |
|