During the first quarter of 2024-2025 (April 1 to June 30), wait time reports demonstrate that, on average, 92 per cent of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) received timely access to radiation treatment, cardiac bypass and hip fracture repair benchmark procedures within the recommended targets. However, as the system continues to recover from the three-year COVID-19 pandemic, and other unplanned events, on average 45 per cent of residents received access to non-urgent cataract, hip and knee replacement benchmarked procedures. Almost all or 94 per cent of patients received access to radiation treatment within 28 days; 85 per cent of cardiac bypass patients had surgery within the 182 day benchmark; 55 per cent of first eye cataract procedures were performed within 112 days; 37 per cent of residents accessed hip replacement surgery; 29 per cent accessed knee replacement surgery within 182 days; and 90 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, 94 per cent of 324 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 19 days, and the number of days in which nine out of 10 patients (90th percentile) began treatment was 26 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, 85 per cent of 98 cardiac bypass surgeries were performed within the benchmark of 182 days; the median wait time was 9 days; and the 90th percentile was 247 days. At the end of June 2024, 74 patients were waiting for cardiac bypass surgery in the province.
Cataracts
The national benchmark for cataract surgery is 112 days. Nearly 1,300 cataract cases were completed in this quarter, with about 730 cases on the first eye. In addition to this, 1,942 cataract cases were completed in the non-hospital facilities in Corner Brook and St. John’s, with 958 cases on the first eye. In the Eastern zone, 68 per cent of first eye included cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 63 days; and the 90th percentile was 296 days. In the Central zone, 27 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 180 days; and the 90th percentile was 309 days. In the Western zone, 80 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 33 days; and the 90th percentile was 200 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell zone, 100 per cent of first eye cases were completed in 112 days; the median was 15 days; and the 90th percentile was 92 days.
Hip Replacement
The national benchmark for hip replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, more than 200 hip replacement surgeries completed in the province. In the Eastern zone, 28 per cent of 118 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 289 days; and the 90th percentile was 714 days. In the Central zone, 31 per cent of 54 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 234 days; and the 90th percentile was 657 days. In the Western zone, 71 per cent of 35 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 92 days; and the 90th percentile was 402 days. In the Labrador Grenfell zone, 50 per cent of 26 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 186 days; and the 90th percentile was 605 days.
Knee Replacement
The national benchmark for knee replacement surgery is 182 days. During this quarter, close to 400 knee joint replacement cases were completed in the province. In the Eastern zone, 19 per cent of 208 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 476 days; and the 90th percentile was 914 days. In the Central zone, 27 per cent of 109 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 226 days; and the 90th percentile was 681 days. In the Western zone, 87 per cent of 47 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 81 days; and the 90th percentile was 202 days. In the Labrador-Grenfell zone, 34 per cent of 40 cases were completed within 182 days; the median was 300 days; and the 90th percentile was 535 days.
Hip Fracture Repair
The national benchmark for hip fracture surgery is 48 hours. Close to 30 hip fracture surgeries completed in three zones this quarter. In the Eastern zone, data is not available for reporting this quarter. In the Central zone, 100 per cent of 9 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 13 hours and the 90th percentile was 20 hours. In the Western zone, 86 per cent of 21 cases were completed in 48 hours; the median wait was 21 hours and the 90th percentile was 50 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
2024-25 Quarter 1: April 1 – June 30, 2024
| Service Area | Pan-Canadian Benchmarks | Newfoundland and Labrador Wait Times – First Quarter (April 1 – June 30, 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
Data Source: Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS), Newfoundland and Labrador.
Notes: Eastern Zone’s wait time data for hip fracture repair were not available to be submitted (NC) as required, and data is suppressed (DS) due to the low number of surgeries completed in Labrador-Grenfell Zone. Provincial hip fracture repair results are based on data from Central, Western and Labrador-Grenfell this quarter. 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 Zones are working to address this.
Date: November 25, 2024