During the first quarter of 2022-2023 (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 ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and cyber-attack, on average only 39 per cent of residents received access to non-urgent cataract, hip and knee replacement benchmarked procedures. Provincial results show that all or 99 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 90 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery within the 182 day benchmark; 38 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 46 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery; 36 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 268 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, 90 per cent of 87 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 13 days; and the 90th percentile was 167 days. At the end of June 2022, 73 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. About 1.500 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, with 816 cases on the first eye. In addition to this, 1,012 cataract cases were completed in the non-designated facilities in Corner Brook and St. John’s, with 549 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 43 per cent of first eye cataract surgeries were completed in 112 days; the median was 189 days; and the 90th percentile was 442 days. In the Central region, 24 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 148 days; and the 90th percentile was 184 days. In the Western region, 58 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 92 days; and the 90th percentile was 217 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 14 days; and the 90th percentile was 92 days.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, close to 200 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 35 per cent of 126 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 243 days; and the 90th percentile was 540 days. In the Central region, 75 per cent of 30 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 116 days; and the 90th percentile was 418 days. In the Western region, 61 per cent of 41 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 171 days; and the 90th percentile was 302 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, 258 knee joint replacement cases were completed in the province. In the Eastern, 20 per cent of 129 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 379 days; and the 90th percentile was 655 days. In the Central region, 19 per cent of 43 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 374 days; and the 90th percentile was 513 days. In the Western region, 61 per cent of 75 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 174 days; and the 90th percentile was 275 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of 11 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 107 days; and the 90th percentile was 153 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 52 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 23 hours and the 90th percentile was 36 hours. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 12 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 12 hours and the 90th percentile was 23 hours. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 11 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 24 hours and the 90th percentile was 38 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
2022-23 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – First Quarter (April 1 – June 30, 2022) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|