Endoscopy waiting lists drop to lowest level since before COVID-19

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has hailed a major breakthrough in reducing Northern Ireland’s endoscopy waiting lists, which have fallen to their lowest point since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Describing the development as “a very positive milestone for patients and for our Health and Social Care Service”, Mr Nesbitt credited the progress to targeted investment, enhanced regional capacity, and increased flexibility under the Elective Care Framework.

He added:

“Through targeted investment, regional endoscopy centres, and the flexible capacity set out in the Elective Care Framework, we are seeing real, tangible improvements. I want to thank the staff and partners who have helped deliver this progress. We will continue to build on this momentum to ensure timely access to care for all.”

Record Reduction in Waiting Lists

The number of patients waiting for an endoscopy — which reached a peak in June 2022 — has now fallen by 62%, representing a reduction of 24,410 people as of October 2025.

This significant improvement, based on management information including unverified Epic data, means waiting lists are now below the levels recorded in March 2019 and substantially lower than those seen before the pandemic.

The turnaround is being driven largely by two dedicated regional endoscopy centres, located at Lagan Valley Hospital and Omagh Hospital. Together, these centres have already treated 17,025 patients, easing pressure on Trusts and freeing capacity across the Health and Social Care Service.

Independent Support and Future Investment

Additional support from the independent-sector insourcing has also played a key role, helping Trusts manage demand and prevent further backlog.

Work is now underway to embed long-term funding so more procedures can be delivered during core hours — a key ambition of the Elective Care Framework: Implementation and Funding Plan.

Professor Mark Taylor, Regional Clinical Director for Elective Care, praised the collaborative effort behind the progress.

“In my role as Regional Clinical Director for Elective Care with a particular focus on waiting lists, I am delighted to see a collective effort to ensure we continue to reduce waiting times for those anxiously waiting,” he said.

“Endoscopy is a clear example of the success of using all available capacity to tackle the waiting lists. I want to pay tribute to our healthcare staff who continue to rise to this challenge with unwavering dedication and a strong sense of purpose.”