AQW 42928/22-27

Mr Gerry Carroll
People Before Profit Alliance
West Belfast

Tabled Date: 23/03/2026
Answered On Date: 06/05/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether he plans to expand capacity within anaesthetics, in light of his Department's Elective Care Framework and Reset Plan for waiting lists.

Answer:

The Elective Care Framework (ECF) and Reset Plan both make clear that reducing our waiting times is a top priority. Achieving this is only possible through a sustainable workforce. Included in the ECF is the intention for the expansion of the clinical workforce across a number of specialties, including anaesthetics.

To address the anaesthetic workforce recruitment and retention challenges, I have made additional funding from elective care allocations available to increase the number of anaesthetic training posts. Seven new training posts have been appointed during 2025/2026. A further seven posts are planned to be filled before March 2028, with four of these to be offered for the August 2026 rotation.

In addition to expanding the number of training posts, funding has also been provided to expand consultant anaesthetic capacity, and funding for two new posts have recently been approved for Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

I would also like to note that the appointment of an Anaesthetic Adviser to my Department since January 2026 provides critical clinical leadership and assurance underpinning the delivery of the elective care reform programme.