During the third quarter of 2022-2023 (October 1 to December 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 78 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 pandemic on average only 36 per cent of residents received access to non-urgent cataract, hip and knee replacement benchmarked procedures. This quarter, 66 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 89 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery within the 182 day benchmark; 34 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 39 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery; 40 per cent accessed knee replacement surgery within 182 days; and 96 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, 66 per cent of 214 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 26 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 36 days. In addition to this, 67 patients travelled to the Princess Margaret Hospital in Ontario for radiation treatment since late last year.
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, 89 per cent of 101 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 8 days; and the 90th percentile was 240 days. At the end of December 2022, 74 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 1,400 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, with 756 cases on the first eye. In addition to this, 1,548 cataract cases were completed in the non-hospital facilities in Corner Brook and St. John’s, with 814 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 37 per cent of first eye cataract surgeries were completed in 112 days; the median was 163 days; and the 90th percentile was 538 days. In the Central region, 26 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 156 days; and the 90th percentile was 205 days. In the Western region, 69 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 49 days; and the 90th percentile was 164 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 20 days; and the 90th percentile was 65 days.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, close to 150 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 30 per cent of 96 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 247 days; and the 90th percentile was 610 days. In the Central region, 40 per cent of 25 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 254 days; and the 90th percentile was 544 days. In the Western region, 71 per cent of 26 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 79 days; and the 90th percentile was 338 days. In the Labrador Grenfell region, no hip replacement surgeries were performed this quarter.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 225 knee joint replacement cases were completed in the province. In the Eastern, 26 per cent of 114 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 330 days; and the 90th percentile was 650 days. In the Central region, 37 per cent of 36 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 218 days; and the 90th percentile was 462 days. In the Western region, 70 per cent of 63 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 104 days; and the 90th percentile was 354 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 50 per cent of 12 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 184 days; and the 90th percentile was 202 days.
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, 94 per cent of 71 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 23 hours and the 90th percentile was 43 hours. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 14 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 16 hours and the 90th percentile was 20 hours. In the Western region, 100 per cent of 15 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 26 hours and the 90th percentile was 47 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 3: October 1 to December 31
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Second Quarter (July 1 – September 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 |
|