07/11/2006

NI surgery waiting times at all time low

Health Minister Paul Goggins has today said that no patient in Northern Ireland is currently waiting more than nine months for surgery.

Provisional figures published on the Department of Health's website for the month of October show that the maximum waiting time for inpatient or day-case treatment is now nine months, while during the same period last year, over 5,600 people were waiting for more than nine months for surgery.

Making the announcement, the Health Minister said: “The figures published today serve to highlight what a long way we have come. The fact that no patient is waiting more than nine months for surgery is an excellent achievement, especially considering the position four years ago when over 20,000 patients were waiting in excess of nine months. I very much welcome the efforts of all hospital staff in bringing this about. Patients right across Northern Ireland really are receiving a much better service.

“However, I am determined that waiting times reduce further still, and have set a target that by March 2007 no patient should be waiting longer than six months for their treatment. The figures published today mark a significant milestone on the way to that target, and give me confidence that it will be achieved.”

(EF)

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