AQW 18616/22-27


Mr Timothy Gaston
Traditional Unionist Voice
North Antrim


Tabled Date: 21/11/2024
Answered On Date: 06/01/2025
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW 17455/22-27, to detail the time taken to secure a first outpatient appointment to gain a place on the waiting list.


Answer:
The table below details the longest time a patient has been on a waiting list for an inpatient/daycase procedure, the corresponding specialty and the outpatient appointment for the same specialty, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust.
Longest waiting patient in weeks
Trust
Specialty
Inpatient /daycase
Outpatients
Belfast
Orthopaedics
551
260
Northern
General Surgery
363
248
South Eastern
Plastic Surgery
554
396
Southern
Urology
499
452
Western
General Surgery
456
517
Current waiting times are unacceptable and no one should have to wait longer than necessary for the surgery they need. While good progress has been made in tackling waiting times in some areas, there remains much more to be done. Within the constraints of existing budgets, I’m committed to taking whatever actions I can to tackle these waiting times and ensure that patients are treated as quickly as possible to ensure best possible outcomes.