During the second quarter of 2023-2024 (July 1 to September 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 92 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) received timely access to cardiac bypass and hip fracture repair benchmark procedures within the recommended targets. However, as result of the three-year duration of the COVID-19 pandemic on average only 48 per cent of residents received access to non-urgent cataract, hip and knee replacement benchmarked procedures. About two-thirds or 64 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 99 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery within the 182 day benchmark; 51 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 49 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery; 38 per cent accessed knee replacement surgery within 182 days; and 88 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, 64 per cent of 280 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 25 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 58 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, 99 per cent of 84 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 17 days; and the 90th percentile was 99 days. At the end of September 2023, 82 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 1,083 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, with 559 cases on the first eye. In addition to this, 1,421 cataract cases were completed in the non-hospital facilities in Corner Brook and St. John’s, with 708 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern zone, 58 per cent of first eye cataract surgeries were completed in 112 days; the median was 77 days; and the 90th percentile was 358 days. In the Central zone, 33 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 139 days; and the 90th percentile was 202 days. In the Western zone, 63 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 56 days; and the 90th percentile was 177 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell zone, 100 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 37 days; and the 90th percentile was 57 days.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 193 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern zone, 40 per cent of 107 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 228 days; and the 90th percentile was 641 days. In the Central zone, 38 per cent of 38 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 221 days; and the 90th percentile was 709 days. In the Western zone, 81 per cent of 37 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 104 days; and the 90th percentile was 390 days. In the Labrador Grenfell zone, 36 per cent of 11 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 375 days; and the 90th percentile was 573 days.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 288 knee joint replacement cases were completed in the province. In the Eastern, 27 per cent of 143 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 420 days; and the 90th percentile was 845 days. In the Central zone, 31 per cent of 65 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 525 days; and the 90th percentile was 841 days. In the Western zone, 77 per cent of 58 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 133 days; and the 90th percentile was 266 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell zone, 28 per cent of 22 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 327 days; and the 90th percentile was 640 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 zone, 84 per cent of 88 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 29 hours and the 90th percentile was 52 hours. In the Central zone, 100 per cent of 15 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 16 hours and the 90th percentile was 23 hours. In the Western zone, 100 per cent of 13 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 20 hours and the 90th percentile was 44 hours. In the Labrador-Grenfell zone, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data was suppressed for this quarter.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2023-24 Quarter 2: July 1 – September 30, 2023
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Second Quarter (July 1 – September 30, 2023) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|