Provincial wait time data shows that on average, 83 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador received access to the priority benchmark services within the recommended time frames during the third quarter of 2011-2012: (October 1 to December 31). Almost 100 per cent of patients requiring radiation treatment for cancer continue to receive access within the benchmark of 28 days. Benchmark results show that 100 per cent of cardiac bypass patients continue to receive surgery more quickly than the recommended targets. Over 70 percent of patients underwent cataract procedures within 112 days. Wait time results for hip and knee replacement surgeries remained above 80 per cent and 60 per cent, respectively, within 182 days. Additionally, there was an increase in the number of hip and knee surgeries completed this quarter, compared to the same quarter last year. More than 80 per cent of residents underwent surgery to repair a fractured hip within the benchmark of 48 hours.
Curative Radiotherapy
The national benchmark for radiation treatment is 28 days. Wait time information for this quarter demonstrates that 96 per cent of 192 newly diagnosed cancer patients began radiation treatment within the 28 day target. The time in which half (median) of these patients waited to begin treatment was 21 days; nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment within 23 days.
Cardiac Bypass Surgery
The national benchmark consists 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 demonstrated: 100 per cent of Level 1 cases were completed within 2 days; 100 per cent of Level 2 cases were completed in 30 days; and 100 per cent of Level 3 cases were completed in 182 days. More than half of the Level 1 cases were completed within less than 1 day; the median wait times ranged from 2 days for Level 2 and 27 days for Level 3; the 90th percentile was 2, 27, and 84 days respectively. At the end of December 2011, 28 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. There were more than 1240 cataract surgeries completed in this quarter, of which 834 were first eye procedures. In the Eastern region, 60 per cent of first eye cases were performed in 112 days; the median was 85 days; and the 90th percentile was 180 days. In the Central region, the number of surgeries completed in 112 days ranged from 90 to 100 per cent; the median ranged from 55 to 76 days; and the 90th percentile ranged from 88 to 113 days. In the Western region, 88 per cent of cases were completed within the benchmark of 112 days; the median was 40 days; and the 90th percentile was 119 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 50 per cent of cases were completed within the benchmark of 112 days; the median was 154 days; and the 90th percentile was 239 days. During the summer, the specialist did not visit, which resulted in longer wait times.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 112 hip replacements were performed in the province. More than half of hip replacement surgeries were performed in the Eastern region, of which 77 per cent completed within the 182 day benchmark; the median was 68 days; and the 90th percentile was 603 days. Central region completed 86 per cent of cases within the 182 day benchmark; the median was 71 days; and the 90th percentile was 243 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of the cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 75 days; and the 90th percentile was 161 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, no hip replacement surgeries were completed during this quarter.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 135 of the 218 knee replacement procedures were performed in the Eastern region, of which 51 per cent were completed within the 182 day benchmark; the median was 179 days and the 90th percentile was 549 days. In the Central region, 69 per cent of cases were completed within the benchmark; the median was 89 days; and the 90th percentile was 219 days. In the Western region, 100 per cent of knee replacements were completed within 182 days; the median was 90 days; and the 90th percentile was 158 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of the cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 99 days; and the 90th percentile was 103 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. More than 110 patients required hip fracture surgery in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 81 per cent of cases were carried out within 48 hours; the median wait was 34 hours and 7 minutes; and the 90th percentile was 53 hours and 35 minutes. In the Central region, 100 per cent of cases were done within the benchmark; the median wait was 13 hours and 49 minutes; and the 90th percentile was 25 hours and 2 minutes. In the Western region, 93 per cent of hip fracture surgeries were completed within 48 hours; the median was 23 hours and 38 minutes; and the 90th percentile was 30 hours and 13 minutes. No hip fracture surgeries were performed in the Labrador-Grenfell region during this quarter.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2011-12 Quarter 3: October 1 to December 31
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Third Quarter (October 1 – December 31, 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) |
|
|
| 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: In Labrador-Grenfell region, zero hip replacement and hip fracture repair surgeries were performed (NS).
Date: April 15, 2012