Health and Community Services
February 21, 2014

Supporting Healthy Families and Communities Through Reduced Wait Times

Newfoundland and Labrador National Leader in Hip and Knee Replacement

Newfoundland and Labrador has the shortest wait times in the country for hip and knee replacement surgery. According to provincial wait time reports for the second quarter of 2013-14 (July 1 to September 30), 98 per cent of nearly 100 hip replacement surgeries, and 96 per cent of 202 knee replacement surgeries were completed within the national benchmark of 182 days. This places Newfoundland and Labrador ahead of all other provinces.

“Our government released a five-year provincial strategy in 2012 to reduce the wait time for hip and knee replacement surgery, and has made significant advancements in reducing wait times in this area in the first two years. We now have some of the best wait times in the country for all five priority benchmark areas, and are particularly pleased with the success achieved for hip and knee replacement. We will continue to work towards Newfoundlanders and Labradorians having the shortest wait possible for medically necessary health care services.”
- The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services

To support the Strategy to Reduce Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery in Newfoundland and Labrador, funding was provided to hire two additional physiotherapists and implement a two-year pilot to establish central orthopedic intake clinics at Eastern Health. Based on the early success of this pilot, two additional central intake clinics were opened in the central and western regions. This is in addition to funding to complete 60 additional joint replacement surgeries in each of the last two years. The number of knee replacement surgeries performed within the 182-day benchmark has since increased by 36 per cent.

During the same quarter, on average, 95 per cent of residents received timely access to the other national benchmark areas of radiation therapy, cardiac bypass surgery, cataracts and hip fracture repair. The national benchmark for all five priority areas is 90 per cent. For complete information on provincial wait times, visit www.gov.nl.ca/health/wait_times/index.html.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.

QUICK FACTS

• According to provincial wait time reports for the second quarter of 2013-14 (July 1 to September 30), 98 per cent of nearly 100 hip replacement surgeries, and 96 per cent of 202 knee replacement surgeries were completed within the national benchmark of 182 days.
• During the same quarter, on average, 95 per cent of residents in Newfoundland and Labrador received timely access to the other national benchmark areas of radiation therapy, cardiac bypass surgery, cataracts, and hip fracture repair. The national benchmark for all five priority areas is 90 per cent.
• Since the release of the provincial Strategy to Reduce Hip and Knee Joint Replacement Surgery Wait Times in 2012, the number of knee replacement surgeries performed within the 182-day benchmark has increased by 36 per cent.
• The Provincial Government has invested more than $140 million in the last eight years to specifically address and improve provincial wait times.

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Media contact:
Jennifer Tulk
Director of Communications
Department of Health and Community Services
709-729-1377, 728-4104
JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca
 
2014 02 21            10:05 a.m.