The statistics showed that 506,612 people in Northern Ireland were waiting to be seen by a specialist consultant for diagnosis as of September, the highest number on record.

The North Belfast MLA said: “This is a record that no one wanted to see, but unfortunately the lack of progress in health reform alongside an abundance of political dysfunction has led us to this point.

“We should be eight years into a ten-year health transformation programme as set out in the ‘Systems, Not Structures’ report from Professor Bengoa, which each of the main five parties signed up to in 2016. 

“Instead, the DUP and Sinn Féin deprived us of government for five of those eight years. 

"We also need to ensure that decisions around transformation are based on evidence and that parties are able to show the leadership required, something that is too often lacking when it comes to decisions around health.

"Alliance will never be found wanting when it comes to health reform. I challenge all other parties to join us so that Northern Ireland does not have more record-breaking health waiting statistics like we have seen today."