During the third quarter of 2010-2011: October 1 to December 31, provincial wait time data shows that residents of Newfoundland & Labrador are receiving timely access to the majority of benchmark procedures. Patients continue to receive timely access to radiation treatment within the 28 day benchmark. Cardiac bypass patients are also receiving surgery within the recommended timeframes. Wait times for cataract procedures will continue to fluctuate in response to varying demand. Also, wait times for hip and knee replacement in St. John’s continue to be longer than elsewhere in the province, given that demand is greatest there also.
Curative Radiotherapy
The national benchmark for radiation treatment is 28 days. Wait time results for this quarter show that 99% of 163 newly diagnosed cancer patients began radiation treatment within the 28 day target. The time in which half or the median of these patients waited to begin treatment was 6 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients or the 90th percentile began treatment was 22 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 were as follows: 100% of nine Level 1 cases within 14 days; 100% of 24 Level 2 cases were completed in just 30 days; and 100% of 57 Level 3 cases were completed within 182 days. Median wait times ranged from 2 days for Level 1, 4 days for Level 2, and 14 days for Level 3, while the 90th percentile ranged from 11 to 8 to 73 days respectively.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract removal is 112 days. Nearly 1200 cataract cases were carried out in this quarter, which is an increase of close to 200 cases in comparison to last quarter. In the Eastern region, 70% of 409 first eye cases were performed in 112 days, while the median was 69 days and the 90th percentile was 178 days. In the Central region, the proportion of cases completed in 112 days ranged from 60% to 71%, while the median ranged from 95 to 106 days and the 90th percentile range was 134 to 147 days. In the Western region, 91% of the 72 first eye cases were completed within the benchmark, while the median was 38 days and the 90th percentile was 105 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 52% of the 34 first eye cases were performed within 112 days, while the median wait was 105 days and the 90th percentile wait was 238 days, as this service is provided by a visiting Ophthalmologist.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, just over 80 hip replacement operations were performed, up from 50 procedures in the second quarter. In the Eastern region, 67% of 47 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark, while the median was 139 days and the 90th percentile wait time was 596 days. In the Central region, 100% of 19 hip replacements were performed within the benchmark, while the median wait time was 48 days and the 90th percentile wait was 95 days. In the Western region, 100% of 11 cases were done within 182 days, while the median was 59 days and the 90th percentile was 72 days. A low number of cases were performed in the Labrador-Grenfell region, so data results are suppressed.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 151 knee replacement procedures were performed. In the Eastern region, 39% or 28 of 72 cases were completed within the 182 day benchmark. The median wait time was 257 days, and the 90th percentile was 544 days, which shows that half of these patients waited from eight months to one and a half years for surgery. In the Central region, 100% of 34 cases were done within the benchmark timeframe, while the median wait was 47 days and the 90th percentile was 102 days. In the Western region, 100% of 31 knee replacements were done within 182 days, while the median was 55 days and the 90th percentile was 144 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100% of 14 cases were done within 113 days, while the median was 61 days and the 90th percentile was 76 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. More than 100 patients required hip fracture surgery in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 64% of 68 cases were carried out within 48 hours, while the median wait was 41 hours and the 90th percentile was 79 hours. In the Central region, 100% of 29 cases were done within 48 hours, while the median or half of the cases were performed in less than 7 hours and the 90th percentile was under 22 hours. In the Western region, 100% of 28 hip fracture surgeries were done within 48 hours, while the median was under 20 hours and the 90th percentile was 27 hours. A low number of cases were performed in the Labrador-Grenfell region, so data results are suppressed.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2010-11 Quarter 3: October 1 to December 31, 2010
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Third Quarter (October – December, 2010) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
| 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. |
|
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: May 15, 2011