Q: What is a colonoscopy?
A colonoscopy is a procedure performed by a trained doctor who uses a colonoscope (a long, flexible instrument about ½ inch in diameter) to examine the large intestine (colon and rectum). It is often used to evaluate gastrointestinal symptoms, such as changes in bowel habits, rectal and intestinal bleeding, abdominal pain, or to screen individuals for colorectal polyps and cancer.
Q: Where will I be referred to have this procedure?
Ask your family doctor/specialist where you can have your procedure done, as these procedures are performed in the following hospitals:
Eastern Zone
General Hospital – Health Sciences Centre – St. John’s
St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital – St. John’s
Carbonear General Hospital – Carbonear
Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre – Burin
Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital – Clarenville
Central Zone
James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre – Gander
Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre – Grand Falls-Windsor
Western Zone
Western Memorial Regional Hospital – Corner Brook
Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital – Stephenville
Labrador-Grenfell Zone
Labrador Health Centre – Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Labrador West Health Centre- Labrador City
Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital – St. Anthony
Q: How are wait times measured?
For this procedure, the wait time is measured from when you and your doctor decide to proceed with procedure to when the procedure is completed.
Q: What is the benchmark wait time for colonoscopy?
There is no national benchmark for this procedure.
Table 1: Urgent Colonoscopy Wait Times for Q2 (June 1 – September 30, 2023-2024)
| Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services | Number of Urgent Colonoscopy Procedures | 5 out of 10 patients had procedure within this number of days | 9 out of 10 patients had procedure within this number of days | Number of No-Shows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone, Hospital |
||||
| Eastern | ||||
| Health Sciences Centre | 45 | 22 | 41 | 0 |
| St. Clare’s Mercy Hospital | 69 | 18 | 80 | ≤ 5 |
| Carbonear General Hospital | 96 | 8 | 19 | ≤ 5 |
| Burin Peninsula Health Care Centre | 9 | 7 | 21 | ≤ 5 |
| Dr. G.B. Cross Memorial Hospital | 37 | 8 | 19 | 0 |
| Central | ||||
| James Paton Memorial Regional Health Centre | 20 | 12 | 17 | 0 |
| Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre | 79 | 7 | 13 | ≤ 5 |
| Western | ||||
| Western Memorial Regional Hospital | 50 | 14 | 34 | 0 |
| Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital | 24 | 10 | 19 | 0 |
| Labrador-Grenfell | ||||
| Labrador Health Centre | 19 | 67 | 92 | ≤ 5 |
| Labrador West Health Centre | DS | DS | DS | ≤ 5 |
| Charles S. Curtis Memorial Hospital | 16 | 10 | 39 | ≤ 5 |
Source: Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS), Newfoundland and Labrador
DS: Data Suppression – This indicates that a hospital performed 5 or less cases during the reporting period. To protect patient privacy, wait times associated with these small volumes will not be reported.
NV: No Volume – This indicates that a hospital did not perform this service during the reporting period, or that zero cases were carried out.
Date: February 28, 2024
Figure 1: Urgent Colonoscopy Wait Times for Q2 (June 1 – September 30, 2023-2024)
Source: Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS), Newfoundland and Labrador
DS: Data Suppression – This indicates that a hospital performed 5 or less cases during the reporting period. To protect patient privacy, wait times associated with these small volumes will not be reported.
NV: No Volume – This indicates that a hospital did not perform this service during the reporting period, or that zero cases were carried out.
Date: February 28, 2024