Provincial wait time information from April 1 to September 30 (Q1/Q2) of 2016-2017 shows that on average 89 per cent of patients accessed care within the recommended time frames, which is slightly below the national target of 90 per cent. Wait time data shows that the majority of radiation treatment, cardiac bypass surgery, cataract and hip fracture patients accessed care within the benchmarks; while data shows increasing demand and wait times for hip and knee joint replacement in some regions is impacting overall provincial results.
Provincial data results for these first two quarters combined show that:
- Almost all (99.8 per cent) of newly diagnosed cancer patients commenced radiation treatment within the 28 day benchmark;
- All or 100 per cent of cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within 154 days which is much sooner than the 182 day benchmark;
- Nine out of 10 (90 per cent) cataract cases on the first eye were performed within 112 days;
- Nearly eight out of 10 (77 per cent) hip replacements were completed within the recommended benchmark of 182 days;
- Seven out of 10 (70 per cent) knee replacements were completed within the recommended benchmark of 182 days; and,
- Almost all or 97 per cent of patients underwent hip fracture surgery within the benchmark of 48 hours.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2016-17 Quarters 1 and 2: April 1 to September 30, 2016
| Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times (April – September, 2016-2017) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | 50th Percentile Wait Time | 90th Percentile Wait Time | Percent Within Benchmark |
| Curative Radiotherapy | Within 4 weeks (28 days) of being ready to treat | 12 days | 20 days | 99.8% |
| Coronary Bypass Surgery (CABG) | Level 1, 2, 3 combined (182 days) | 6 days | 83 days | 100% in 154 days |
| Cataracts (First Eye) | Within 16 weeks (112 days) for patients who are at high risk. | 65 days | 112 days | 90% |
| Hip Replacement | Within 26 weeks (182 days) | 100 days | 241 days | 77% |
| Knee Replacement | Within 26 weeks (182 days) | 127 days | 269 days | 70% |
| Hip Fracture Repair | Fixation within 48 hours | 21 hrs 48 min | 43 hrs 49 min | 97% |
Source: Regional Health Authorities (RHAs), Newfoundland and Labrador
Notes: In keeping with data standards, outliers or cases that do not comply with the standard wait time definitions are excluded from cataract wait time calculations and Eastern and Central Health are working to address this.
Date: February 28,2017
Provincial Wait Time Benchmark Update Q1/Q2 2016-2017 (178 KB)