Surgeons: Waiting times in Northern Ireland show health service remains in a precarious state 

• Latest waiting time figures for NI’s 5 Health Trusts are incomplete or deemed to be ‘in development’ due to the rollout of a new patient digital record system. 
• Available data for the 5 Trusts shows 107,871 patients are waiting for surgery or treatment either as an inpatient or day case. 
• The data shows the worst waiters are in three surgical specialties - Ear Nose and Throat (ENT), Urology, and Trauma and Orthopaedics (T&O), with waits of up to 5 to 6 years 
• 56.4% of patients were waiting for admission under the General Surgery, T&O Surgery or ENT specialties. 
• There are 341,431 patients waiting for a first outpatient appointment with a consultant (figures exclude Belfast Trust) and over 50% have been waiting more than 52 weeks 

Surgeons have said that the latest waiting times data for Northern Ireland show the health service remains in a precarious state and investment in the surgical workforce is critical.   

Performance data covering inpatients, outpatients and diagnostic activity in Northern Ireland from 31 March to 30 June 2024 has been published today. This follows new health service workforce data showing that 50% of all medical and dental vacancies are at consultant level. 

Responding to the figures, Northern Ireland Director of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), Mr Niall McGonigle, said: 

“Today’s data is incomplete and makes comparison over time extremely difficult. However, as surgeons working on the ground, we know that Northern Ireland’s health service remains in a precarious state, with huge pressures on a depleted and stretched workforce. 

“We are concerned that the surgical workforce, on which much of the elective recovery relies, may reduce further in the coming years. Our surgical workforce census showed 91% of respondents aged 55 to 64 plan to retire in the next four years. Burnout and stress are also leading surgeons to consider leaving the health service. This is catastrophic when we need their expertise like never before. 

“The health service in Northern Ireland is in desperate need of a recurrent budget to help with planning and approval of funds for the Minister’s 5-year waiting list plan. There also needs to be greater investment in staff and a drive to improve working conditions – without this, patients will continue to languish on waiting lists with little hope of timely care.” 

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Today’s data reflects activity across inpatient & day case, outpatient and diagnostics from 31 March 2024 to 30 June 2024. See details here: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/topics/doh-statistics-and-research/hospital-waiting-times-statistics 
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. HSCNI Workforce Active Recruitment Statistics August 2024 Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Active Recruitment Statistics - Vacancies at 30 June 2024 (health-ni.gov.uk) The Medical and Dental Staff group have seen the largest percentage increase in vacancies over the last 5 years (2019-2024) over any other staff group. 
4. Advancing the Surgical Workforce: 2023 UK Surgical Workforce Census Report data is available here: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/surgical-workforce-census/. Data for Northern Ireland is available on request. Burnout and stress are considered to be the main challenges facing the surgical profession for 66% of respondents in Northern Ireland 
5. Department of Health 5 year waiting list plan May 2024 https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/health/Elective%20Care%20Framework%20-%20May%202024.pdf  
6.  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. 
7. 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 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. 
8. For more information, please contact the Press Office: Telephone: 020 7869 6047 Email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk. Out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.