Provincial wait time data shows that wait times improved for residents of Newfoundland and Labrador during the first quarter of 2011-2012: (April 1 to June 30). Throughout the province, the majority of new patients began radiation treatment for cancer within the 28 day benchmark. Cardiac bypass patients are receiving surgery much sooner than the recommended time frames, as 100 per cent of cases were completed within 60 days. Seven out of 10 patients underwent cataract procedures within 112 days. Provincially, eight out of 10 hip replacements were performed within 182 days, as wait times have improved significantly in the Eastern region. In this quarter, 69 per cent of cases were performed within 182 days, compared to just 44 per cent in the previous quarter. Hip fracture wait times have also increased significantly, as close to 100 per cent of surgeries were carried out within 48 hours.
Curative Radiotherapy
The national benchmark for radiation treatment is 28 days. Wait times for this quarter indicate that 95 per cent of 221 newly diagnosed cancer patients began radiation treatment within the benchmark. The time in which half (or the median) of these patients waited to begin treatment was 24 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (or the 90th percentile) began treatment was 26 days.
Cardiac Bypass Surgery
The national benchmark is comprised of three tiers: Level 1 within 14 days; Level 2 within 42 days; and Level 3 within 182 days. Wait time data during this quarter was as follows: 100 per cent of Level 1 cases were completed in 7 days; 97 per cent of Level 2 cases were completed in 42 days; and 100 per cent of Level 3 cases were completed within 60 days. Median wait times ranged from 1 day for Level 1, 3 days for Level 2, and 7 days for Level 3, while the 90th percentile was 6, 22, and 34 days respectively. As of June 30, 2011, there were 19 patients waiting for bypass surgery.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract removal is 112 days; there were more than 1365 cataract surgeries carried out in this quarter, of which 884 were first eye procedures. In the Eastern region, 61 per cent of 445 first eye cases were performed in 112 days, while the median was 90 days and the 90th percentile was 200 days. In the Central region, the proportion of cases completed in 112 days ranged from 79 per cent to 100 per cent, while the median ranged from 50 to 90 days and the 90th percentile ranged from 75 to 145 days. In the Western region, the number of procedures during the first quarter increased by 43 per cent compared to 2010-11 first quarter. This year’s quarter of 109 cases had a 99 per cent completion rate within benchmark of 112 days, while the median was 21 days and the 90th percentile was 53 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 71 per cent of the 30 first eye cases were performed by the visiting specialist within 112 days, while the median was 86 days and the 90th percentile was 167 days.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, just over 120 hip replacement operations were performed. The majority of the cases (75) were in the Eastern region, this is a 44 per cent increase in the number of cases compared to the same quarter last year. Close to 70 per cent of 75 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark, while the median was 142 days and the 90th percentile wait time was 510 days. In the Central region, the number of procedures doubled compared to the first quarter of 2010-11. All or 100 per cent of 33 hip replacements were completed within 182 days, while the median wait time was 50 days and the 90th percentile wait was 163 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of cases were done within 182 days, while the median was 80 days and the 90th percentile was 151 days. A low number of cases were performed in the Labrador-Grenfell region, therefore data results are suppressed.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 221 knee replacement procedures were performed. The majority of the cases (122) were performed in the Eastern region; this is a 20 per cent increase in the number of cases performed compared to the same quarter in the previous year. Of the 122 cases, 32 per cent were completed within the 182 day benchmark, while the median was 245 days and the 90th percentile wait time was 656 days. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 49 cases were done within the benchmark timeframe of 182 days, while the median wait was 69 days and the 90th percentile was 131 days. In the Western region, 97 per cent of 38 knee replacements were done within 182 days, while the median was 63 days and the 90th percentile was 158 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of 12 cases were completed within 71 days, while the median was 54 days and the 90th percentile was 66 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. Over 110 patients required hip fracture surgery in this quarter. With dedicated hours having been designated in March 2011 for trauma surgery in Eastern region, the number of hip fracture surgeries completed within 48 hours was expected to improve. Improvement was shown within the first three months of implementation, 95 per cent of 67 cases carried out within 48 hours, while the median wait was 24 hours and 50 minutes and the 90th percentile was 47 hours. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 21 cases were completed within 24 hours, while the median wait was 7 hours and 25 minutes and the 90th percentile was 20 hours and 35 minutes. In the Western region, 90 per cent of 25 hip fracture surgeries were done within 48 hours, while the median was 20 hours and 18 minutes and the 90th percentile was 41 hours and 24 minutes. A low number of cases were performed in the Labrador-Grenfell region; as a result wait time data are suppressed.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2011-12 Quarter 1: April 1 to June 30
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times- First Quarter (April 1 – June 30, 2011) |
|---|---|---|
| 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) |
|
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| 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 |
|
| Breast Screening | Women aged 50-69 every two years |
|
| Cervical Screening | Women, starting at age 18, every three years to age 69 after two normal pap tests. |
|
Data Source: Regional Health Authorities, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Notes: Hip replacement and hip fracture repair data are suppressed for the Labrador-Grenfell Health region, as a small volume of cases were performed during this quarter.
Date: March 15, 2012