A successful 'Mega Clinics' initiative which helps reduce surgical waiting lists by rapidly assessing long-waiting patients has been welcomed by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt.

Mega Clinics alleviate pressure across the system by targeting large groups of patients in a 'one stop shop' which involves surgical review and anaesthetic preoperative assessment in a single appointment.

Joint surgical and anaesthetic preoperative assessment Mega Clinics have been piloted across Belfast and Western Trust areas, bringing together surgical, anaesthetic, nursing and administrative teams to enable assessment of patients who have been waiting a long time for surgery. 

In many cases, patients leave the clinic with a date for their procedure at one of the regional elective care centres within three months of assessment.

The Minister praised the teams at Belfast City Hospital during a visit to one of their weekend Mega Clinics.

Minister Nesbitt said: "Reducing waiting times is a key area of focus for me and the development of Mega Clinics has made a significant contribution in supporting reduction of waiting lists. I was keen to have the opportunity to see first-hand the pivotal role that the Belfast City Hospital Mega Clinic is playing in this process.

"The fact that these clinics reduce on the day cancellations and lost theatre capacity is welcome news.

"I am very appreciative and supportive of the excellent work I have seen here today and want to thank all of the staff for their hard work and dedication and for playing their part in helping to transform our health service. I was pleased to be able to award them the Department's Elective Care Management Team Recognition Award in September.

"The establishment of the Mega Clinic model across a number of specialities would have a direct impact on reducing the number of people waiting for procedures in NI.

"However, this requires recurrent funding, and I will continue to do all I can, in a very constrained financial environment, to ensure that we can expand successful and transformative projects like this."

Mega clinics are a key component in the health and social care reform agenda and can play a significant role in reducing the number of people waiting for procedures here. For patients, this can mean fewer journeys and less time off work.

Dr Rosie Hogg, Consultant Anaesthetist in the Belfast Health & Social Care Trust and Clinical Co-Chair of the Elective Care Centre Implementation Group in the Department of Health said: "The Mega Clinic initiative aims to prepare large numbers of the longest waiting patients for surgery.

"If, after clinical validation by the surgical team, patients still need or wish to have their procedure we immediately prepare them by thorough assessment of their medical history and give advice about having their procedure. 

"This also helps to decide at which site they can have their procedure performed safely and within the shortest period of time, allowing theatre lists in all of our hospitals to be fully utilised and reducing on the day cancellations, which waste valuable resources."