Nesbitt hails “very real progress” as Northern Ireland waiting lists fall

Love Ballymena
Sep 2
2 min read

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has praised the “very real progress” being made in tackling Northern Ireland’s longest health waiting times, following the latest update on the Department of Health’s Elective Care Framework.

The update highlights reductions in long waits, expanded service capacity and fairer access to treatment across the region.

Mr Nesbitt said patients must remain at the heart of reform efforts, while acknowledging the scale of the challenge.

“Outpatient waits of over four years are down by 14%, and surgical waits of more than four years are down by 21%,” he said.

“In named specialties like gallbladders and tonsils, waits have fallen by almost a quarter. These are early steps, but they show that focus and investment can change lives.

“So the progress we are now seeing is very real. Since April almost 59,000 additional treatments, assessments and diagnostic tests have been delivered – putting us on track to hit the Programme for Government target.

“However, it’s about people, not numbers and behind every one of those procedures is a patient who has waited, worried, and is now getting the care they deserve.”

Service improvements across key areas

The Minister pointed to specific areas where waiting times are falling:

Endoscopy waits are now less than half of their 2022 peak.
Children’s care has seen significant improvement, with no child expected to wait more than a year for an endoscopy.
By March 2026, no child should wait longer than 13 weeks for scoliosis, cleft lip or squint surgery.

“These improvements will make a real difference for families,” Mr Nesbitt added.

Elective Care leadership and system reform

Professor Mark Taylor, recently appointed as Northern Ireland’s first Regional Clinical Director for Elective Care, said the progress reflects the principles set out in the Elective Care Framework and the Minister’s Three Year Plan to Stabilise, Reform and Deliver.

“This very welcome progress is linked to the principles set out in both the Elective Care Framework and the Minister’s Three Year Plan,” he explained.

“We are continuing to put Bengoa into action. One system, working together, reducing inequalities across Trusts, delivering fairer and more consistent access and building resilience into health and social care. That is how we achieve better outcomes for patients.”

Looking ahead

Mr Nesbitt expressed his gratitude to health staff for their “tremendous efforts” in reducing waiting lists.

“This was never going to be a quick fix,” he said. “But through keeping the big picture in mind and working together as one team, we will continue to make progress.

“Northern Ireland is too small for different parts of the health and social care system to be in competition. Patients will remain at the centre of our mission to build a health service that is fairer, stronger and sustainable.”