Surgeons respond to latest waiting times data in Northern Ireland

Surgeons say the latest waiting times data in Northern Ireland show just how stretched the health service still is and call for urgent investment in surgical staff to help tackle delays and improve care for patients.

Performance data covering inpatients, outpatient and diagnostic activity in Northern Ireland covering 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025 reflects an incomplete set.

While the data for Belfast, Northern and South Eastern HSC Trusts cannot be commented on as they are designated as ‘official statistics in development’, the data for Southern and Western HSC Trusts finds that neither of the draft waiting time targets were met.

As of 31 March, 25.7% of patients were waiting less than 13 weeks for treatment, substantially less than the draft target of 55%.

For the same period, 49.5% of patients were waiting longer than 52 weeks, against the draft target for no patients to be waiting longer than 52 weeks.

In total, 31,458 patients were waiting for inpatient or day case admission in the Southern and Western HSC Trusts as of 31 March.

Commenting on the data, Mr Niall McGonigle, Northern Ireland Director of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), said:

“The latest waiting times data for Northern Ireland show the health service is still not in good shape. January brought significant challenges with increased emergency demand and bed shortages, affecting operations going ahead and the wider health service.

“Health Minister Mike Nesbitt’s recent package of initiatives to tackle hospital care backlogs, including a Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme, is welcome. For some patients who have been waiting longer than two years for an operation, this means they will be seen sooner. But in the long term, investment needs to be focused on Northern Ireland Health and Social Care. 

“As staff continue to put everything they have into bringing waiting lists down, it is crucial that the NI Executive prioritises investment to bolster the surgical workforce.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Today’s data reflects activity across inpatient & day case, outpatient and diagnostics from 1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025. See details here: Northern Ireland waiting time statistics: inpatient and day case waiting times March 2025 | Department of Health
   
   
2. Some of the waiting time figures exclude Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT) due to the launch of a new electronic patient record system, Encompass on June 6, 2024. Other figures from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and BHSCT are advised to be ‘official statistics in development’.
   
   
3. The draft waiting times target states that 55% of patients should wait no longer than 13 weeks for inpatient/day case treatment; with no patient waiting longer than 52 weeks.
   
   
4. Nesbitt launches waiting list initiatives – Department of Health press release: Nesbitt launches waiting list initiatives | Department of https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/nesbitt-launches-waiting-list-initiatives
   
   
5. The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) provides world-class education, assessment, and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals, and members of the wider surgical and dental care teams, at all stages of their career. Our vision is to see excellent surgical care for everyone. We do this by setting professional standards, facilitating research, and championing the best outcomes for patients.
   
   
6. A Professional Board of over 20 surgeons represents RCS England in Northern Ireland. They reflect the specialty areas of neurosurgery, ENT, paediatrics, general surgery, trauma and orthopaedics, plastics, urology, vascular, cardiothoracic and OMFS. The Board also includes the Association of Surgeons in Training (ASiT), QUB & UU Medical School Surgical Society, NIMDTA Head of the School of Surgery, SAS doctors and an RCS England Council member.
   
   
7. For more information, please contact the RCS England press office: telephone: 020 7869 6054/6047; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk; out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.