During the fourth quarter of 2022-2023 (January 1 to March 31), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, nearly 80 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) received timely access to radiation, cardiac bypass and hip fracture repair benchmark procedures within the recommended targets. However, as result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on average only 36 per cent of residents received access to non-urgent cataract, hip and knee replacement benchmarked procedures. This quarter, 64 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 94 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery within the 182 day benchmark; 34 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 47 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery; 34 per cent accessed knee replacement surgery within 182 days; and 97 per cent of hip fracture surgeries were performed within 48 hours.
Curative Radiotherapy
The national benchmark for radiation treatment is 28 days. During this quarter, 64 per cent of 278 newly diagnosed cancer patients began radiation treatment within the 28 day benchmark. The time in which half (or the median) of these patients waited to begin treatment was 26 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 46 days.
Cardiac Bypass Surgery
The national benchmark has three tiers: Level 1 within 14 days; Level 2 within 42 days; and Level 3 within 182 days. Nationally, cardiac bypass surgery benchmark data according to the three urgency levels is not comparable, therefore Newfoundland and Labrador reports summary level data for all three levels combined. During this quarter, 94 per cent of 102 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 13 days; and the 90th percentile was 154 days. At the end of March 31, 2023, 65 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 1,400 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, with 758 cases on the first eye. In addition to this,1,310 cataract cases were completed in the non-hospital facilities in Corner Brook and St. John’s, with nearly 670 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern region, 33 per cent of first eye cataract surgeries were completed in 112 days; the median was 172 days; and the 90th percentile was 532 days. In the Central region, 27 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 161 days; and the 90th percentile was 192 days. In the Western region, 61 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 99 days; and the 90th percentile was 151 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 100 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 23 days; and the 90th percentile was 34 days.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, close to 220 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern region, 38 per cent of 132 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 224 days; and the 90th percentile was 635 days. In the Central region, 53 per cent of 27 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 154 days; and the 90th percentile was 719 days. In the Western region, 75 per cent of 34 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 100 days; and the 90th percentile was 212 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 57 per cent of 23 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 156 days; and the 90th percentile was 496 days.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 288 knee joint replacement cases were completed in the province. In the Eastern, 19 per cent of 143 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 457 days; and the 90th percentile was 715 days. In the Central region, 43 per cent of 38 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 211 days; and the 90th percentile was 581 days. In the Western region, 64 per cent of 77 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 116 days; and the 90th percentile was 429 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, 30 per cent of 30 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 404 days; and the 90th percentile was 830 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. Close to 100 hip fracture surgeries completed in this quarter. In the Eastern region, 99 per cent of 67 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 20 hours and the 90th percentile was 37 hours. In the Central region, 100 per cent of 20 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 18 hours and the 90th percentile was 44 hours. In the Western region, 78 per cent of 14 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 22 hours and the 90th percentile was 52 hours. In the Labrador-Grenfell region, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data was suppressed for this quarter.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2022-23 Quarter 4: January 1 – March 31, 2023
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – Second Quarter (July 1 – September 30, 2023) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|