During the first quarter of 2023-2024 (April 1 to June 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 98 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) received timely access to cardiac bypass and hip fracture repair benchmark procedures within the recommended targets. However, as result of the three year COVID-19 pandemic on average only 38 per cent of residents received access to non-urgent cataract, hip and knee replacement benchmarked procedures. About half or 49 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 96 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery within the 182 day benchmark; 37 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 47 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery; 35 per cent accessed knee replacement surgery within 182 days; and 99 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, 49 per cent of 283 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 29 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 53 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, 96 per cent of 87 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 13 days; and the 90th percentile was 140 days. At the end of June 2023, 75 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 1,540 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, with 827 cases on the first eye. In addition to this, 1,678 cataract cases were completed in the non-hospital facilities in Corner Brook and St. John’s, with 847 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern Urban zone, 41 per cent of first eye cataract surgeries were completed in 112 days; the median was 163 days; and the 90th percentile was 463 days. In the Central zone, 28 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 143 days; and the 90th percentile was 216 days. In the Western zone, 67 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 46 days; and the 90th percentile was 162 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell zone, 100 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 16 days; and the 90th percentile was 90 days.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, close to 240 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern zones, 38 per cent of 141 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 260 days; and the 90th percentile was 595 days. In the Central zone, 64 per cent of 41 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 113 days; and the 90th percentile was 551 days. In the Western zone, 80 per cent of 33 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 78 days; and the 90th percentile was 363 days. In the Labrador Grenfell zone, 27 per cent of 24 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 346 days; and the 90th percentile was 558 days.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, 321 knee joint replacement cases were completed in the province. In the Eastern zones, 22 per cent of 166 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 449 days; and the 90th percentile was 665 days. In the Central zone, 34 per cent of 56 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 250 days; and the 90th percentile was 645 days. In the Western zone, 70 per cent of 65 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 114 days; and the 90th percentile was 306 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell zone, 41 per cent of 34 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 259 days; and the 90th percentile was 501 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. Close to 110 hip fracture surgeries completed in this quarter. In the Eastern Urban zone, 98 per cent of 66 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 22 hours and the 90th percentile was 36 hours. In the Central zone, 100 per cent of 15 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 10 hours and the 90th percentile was 21 hours. In the Western zone, 100 per cent of 23 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 26 hours and the 90th percentile was 43 hours. In the Labrador-Grenfell zone, due to the low number of surgeries being completed, data was suppressed for this quarter.
Provincial Wait Times Data
2023-24 Quarter 1: April 1 – June 30, 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 |
|