Health Minister has welcomed the “very real
progress” in efforts to reduce the longest waiting times.
The Department of Health has provided an update on its Elective
Care Framework: Implementation and Funding Plan, showing
reductions in long waits, expanded capacity, and fairer care
across Northern Ireland.
Emphasising that patients must remain the focus of the entire
system, the Minister highlighted the reductions in longest waits:
“Outpatient waits of over four years are down by 14%, and
surgical waits of more than four years are down by 21%. In named
specialties like gallbladders and tonsils, waits have fallen by
almost a quarter. These are early steps, but they show that focus
and investment can change lives.
“So the progress we are now seeing is very real. Since
April almost 59,000 additional treatments,
assessments and diagnostic tests have been delivered – putting us
on track to hit the Programme for Government target. However,
it's about people, not numbers and behind every one of those
procedures is a patient who has waited, worried, and is now
getting the care they deserve.”
He also pointed to key service areas where improvement is being
made.
“Endoscopy waits are now fewer than half
the peak we saw in 2022. For children, the improvements are even
clearer – no child is expected to wait more than a year for an
endoscopy, and by March 2026, no child should wait beyond 13
weeks for scoliosis, cleft lip or squint surgery. That will make
a real difference for families.”
Professor , recently appointed as Northern
Ireland's first Regional Clinical Director for Elective Care,
said:
“This very welcome progress is linked to the principles set out
in both the Elective Care Framework and the Minister's Three Year
Plan to Stabilise, Reform and Deliver across the Health and
Social Care system, with our Health Social Care staff working
together as one team.
“We are continuing to put Bengoa into action. One system, working
together, reducing inequalities across Trusts, delivering fairer
and more consistent access and building resilience into health
and social care. That is how we achieve better outcomes for
patients.”
Minister Nesbitt thanked staff for their tremendous efforts.
“This was never going to be a quick fix.
But through keeping the big picture in mind and working together
as one team, we will continue to make progress. Northern Ireland
is too small for different parts of the health and social care
system to be in competition.
“Patients will remain at the centre of our mission to
build a health service that is fairer, stronger and
sustainable.”
Highlights:
- Almost 59,000 additional outpatient, diagnostic and inpatient
procedures delivered – well on track to meet the 70,000 target
set in the Programme for Government.
- 14% reduction in patients waiting more than four years for an
outpatient appointment.
- 21% reduction in patients waiting more than four years for
surgery.
- 24% reduction in long-wait procedures such as gallbladders
and tonsils.
- Endoscopy backlog halved since the 2022 peak.
- Paediatric care – by March 2026, no child should wait more
than 13 weeks for scoliosis, cleft lip or squint surgery.
Notes to editors:
- The Elective Care Framework (May 2025) is a plan to tackle
waiting lists and build long-term capacity: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/elective-care-framework-restart-recovery-and-redesign
