BBC News | NORTHERN IRELAND | Highest ever NI waiting lists

Northern Ireland's hospital waiting lists are at an all-time high and the length of time people are waiting for treatment breaches government standards.

Nearly 50,000 people are waiting for in-patient hospital treatment. Of these, 6,000 have been waiting for more than 18 months, breaching the Patients' Charter.

In comparison, no patients on waiting lists in England have been waiting more than 18 months for treatment.

The province's hospitals are also facing a major shortage of beds.

Figures from the Eastern Health and Social Services Council show that some patients admitted to hospital are having to wait more than 17 hours on trollies.

The EHSSC recorded that in August, 309 people had to wait on trollies for beds, in July 187 were affected, and in June 315 were affected.

In August, nine patients had to wait more than 17 hours for a bed.

The hospitals worst affected in the east of the province were the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald near Belfast, the Mater in Belfast and the Lagan Valley in Lisburn, County Antrim.

Minister's plan to cut lists

Northern Ireland health minister Bairbre de Brun has published a new framework plan for action to cut hospital queues, but she is faced with a deep-seated problem as the province's waiting lists have been the longest in the UK for some time.

Bairbre de Brun: Plan of action on waiting lists
Ms de Brun has pledged an extra �5m to cut hospital waiting lists to manageable level.

In June 49,518 people were on the province's hospital waiting lists. The queue had lengthened by almost 4,240 over the last year.

While she said she realised there was no overnight solution to the problem, the minister said: "For too long waiting lists have been tolerated here and that has got to change."

She said it was one of the most important issues she faced and that while a huge effort was needed she was confident the action would immediately begin to address the problem.

"The challenge for all who work in the health and social service is to improve responsiveness and to cut the waiting, so that people are seen within a reasonable time."

Further resources from the Northern Ireland budget would be needed in the long term if the problem was to be brought under control, she added.

"I will continue to make the case to my executive colleagues for the extra resources we need to deal with this and other urgent issues," she said.


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