Understanding Breast Screening Wait Times in Nova Scotia
What You Need to Know About How Wait Times Are Reported
We understand that many people are concerned about how long they may have to wait for a breast screening appointment. To help clarify what’s published on the Department of Health and Wellness (DHW) website, here are some key points about how screening wait times are calculated and what they mean.
What Is a Screening Wait Time?
The wait time reported by DHW reflects how long it takes for someone booking their very first screening appointment to be seen. It does not include returning clients, as many people rebook immediately after receiving their results, making that data difficult to measure consistently.
Important Things to Know
- Wait times are retrospective: They are based on data from the previous quarter, not current real-time availability. This provides a general idea, but actual wait times may differ.
- Wait times vary by location: Some screening sites currently have longer wait times than others. It’s highly recommended that you book your next mammogram as soon as you receive your results to help ensure timely follow-up.
Understanding Percentiles
The DHW website lists wait times using both the 50th and 90th percentiles, which offer insight into how long most people waited:
- 50th Percentile (Median): Half of clients were seen in this amount of time or less; the other half waited longer.
- 90th Percentile: 90% of clients were seen within this time; only 10% waited longer.
Who Coordinates Breast Screening?
The Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program (NSBSP) coordinates all screening appointments across the province. However, it’s important to know that NSBSP does not provide the screening services directly, nor does it control appointment capacity at each site. Service availability depends on local staffing and resources at each hospital or clinic.