It comes after the publication of quarterly statistics for outpatient, inpatient and day case waiting times, and diagnostic services for the Belfast, South Eastern and Northern Trusts, which highlighted that none of these Trusts met the Department of Health target for patient waits in these areas.
These statistics confirm that some patients are waiting up to almost 6 years for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment, and over half of patients are waiting for more than a year for inpatient or day case treatment.
The North Belfast MLA has said: “Yet again, the Department of Health is presenting a series of outrageous waiting time statistics which, in some cases, are only appearing to get worse.
“The fact that more than a third of patients are waiting over 6 months to access diagnostic services is particularly concerning – this is often an extremely stressful time in people’s lives and they should not have to spend more time than necessary before receiving certainty around what they are facing.
“These statistics are proof that the Health Minister must take a different approach to tackling waiting times and listen to clinicians on the ground who I know have creative and practical suggestions for how to address the problem.
“Whether it is overhauling the targeting system for long waits or other considering creative approaches to reducing waiting times, it is clear we cannot continue to accept the status quo.”