RCS warns over NI surgery waiting lists

The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has warned over waiting times for patients in Northern Ireland awaiting surgery, after DH statistics showed 55.3 per cent of patients were waiting longer than 13 weeks to be admitted for treatment.

The data recorded figures for the quarter from October to the end of December 2016 and also highlighted that 12 per cent of patients waited more than 52 weeks to be admitted for inpatient or day case treatment.

Currently, government targets require that less than 45 per cent of patients should be waiting over 13 weeks and no patients should be waiting longer than 52 weeks for treatment, meaning Northern Ireland has missed its target for 2016.

The RCS highlighted that the 13 weeks waiting times target has not been met since the quarter ending 31 March 2013 and the 52 weeks target has not been completely achieved in the last 10 years.

Responding to the figures, a spokesperson for the Royal College of Surgeons, said: “It has been over four years since the health service in Northern Ireland last met its 13 week waiting time target for inpatient and day case treatment and ten years since the 52 week target was met. Currently, over two thirds (70.4 per cent) of patients are waiting more than 13 weeks for inpatient treatment. This doesn’t even come close to meeting the current target.

“We cannot forget that behind these statistics are potentially very ill and anxious patients who are being made to wait too long for surgery. This is the true impact of waiting times spiralling out of control in Northern Ireland.

“The reasons for high waiting times are complex and will not be solved overnight. The recently published Elective Care Plan sets out a series of system reforms, including the removal of the 13 week target for inpatient and day case treatment meaning the only remaining target would be for no patients to wait more than a year for treatment.

“We are deeply concerned that removing the 13 week target means the HCS in Northern Ireland becomes even less ambitious at improving access to surgery. Next week’s elections offer an opportunity for political parties to return to the Executive, debate the Elective Care Plan, and reaffirm their commitment to improving access to surgery in Northern Ireland.”