LISTEN - NI Elective care centres for day procedures to cut patient waiting times

by Q Radio News

The Department of Health says a shake-up in the way day surgeries are delivered is an important step in transforming hospital services. 

It follows it's announcement that from December, new elective care centres are being introduced to look after cataracts and to treat varicose veins. 

The centres should dramatically cut waiting times by 2021, meaning no patient will have to wait over 13 weeks for treatment. 

Chief Medical Officer, Doctor Michael Bride admits the initiative will see some patients travelling further but it will improve things: 

Meanwhile, Department of Health Permanent Secretary, Richard Pengelly says the "restructuring" of these services is vital: 

It is expected that the development of elective care centres will also have a significant impact on the number of patients treated. 

For cataracts, this could mean up to 2,000 additional treatments annually and for varicose veins, this could mean up to 500 more treatments.

This means productivity increases of up to 30% in both cases.

With these improvements, it is the Department's expectation that, for patients who have been assessed as requiring treatment for cataracts and varicose veins:

•             By December 2019, no patient will wait longer than one year;

•             By December 2020, no patient will wait longer than 26 weeks;

•             By December 2021, all patients will be treated within the ministerial target of 13 weeks.

The centres for varicose veins will be based at Lagan Valley Hospital and Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex; and those for cataracts will operate from three locations - Mid-Ulster Hospital, Downe Hospital, and South Tyrone Hospital.

In all cases, the centres will serve patients from across Northern Ireland.