Media Centre

The Commission on the Future of Surgery has predicted that surgery is about to be transformed for millions of patients by a new wave of technologies – driven by changes in digital technology and our understanding of human biology – which in some cases are only months away. Unlike many previous innovations, the forthcoming technologies are expected to affect every type of surgery, including the way it is provided and the way we train surgeons.

Northern Ireland Department of Health waiting time statistics published today (Thursday 29 November 2018) show there are now 19,715 patients waiting more than a year for inpatient treatment – a rise of almost 50% compared to September 2017. By contrast, in England 3,156 patients were waiting more than a year. A further 94,222 are now waiting more than a year for an outpatient appointment in Northern Ireland.

BBC One's Panorama will air a programme on medical device regulation tonight, which is part of a larger international investigation, called the Implant Files, carried out by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ). UK partners for the investigation have included the BBC, The BMJ and The Guardian. Professor Derek Alderson, President of the Royal College of Surgeons, will appear on the Panorama programme tonight, calling for drastic regulatory changes for medical devices.