Hospital waiting times in Northern Ireland continue to spiral

By Maria McCann

Hospital waiting times in Northern Ireland have continued to rise.

47,000 patients have been on a list to see a consultant for more than a year.

It's according to official figures published by the Department of Health on Thursday.

In December, around a quarter of a million people were waiting to be seen.

The 2016/17 Ministerial target relating to outpatient waiting times states that by March 2017, at least 50% of patients should wait no longer than nine weeks for a first outpatient appointment, with no patient waiting longer than 52 weeks.

However on the 31 December 2016, 19.1% (47,072) of patients were waiting more than 52 weeks for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment.

That's around 15,000 more people than the year before.

Around 46,000 of patients were also waiting longer than nine weeks for a diagnostic test.

Margaret Carr, Cancer Research UK’s public affairs manager in Northern Ireland, says it shows that demand is outstripping the ability to provide a reliable service in Northern Ireland.

“The fact so many patients are waiting longer than nine weeks for such vital tests is simply not good enough. Swift action is needed as patients are waiting too long for potentially life-saving cancer treatments.

“Making sure that people have diagnostic tests quickly is a vital part of ensuring earlier diagnosis and prompt treatment for patients, including those who might have cancer. These tests are important because if a doctor suspects a patient has cancer, the sooner the disease is diagnosed, the more successful treatment is likely to be.

“This is why Northern Ireland desperately needs a new cancer plan that identifies priorities and where to target resources. The number of patients requiring diagnostic tests is rising, and the system must be prepared for those increases.”