Stormont prioritises north/south waste before cutting hospital waiting lists
04 December 2010
Statement by TUV Vice-Chairman Keith Harbinson:
“When Michael McGimpsey stated that by the end of March 2011 no patient should have to wait longer than nine weeks for a first outpatient appointment, to many I’m sure it didn’t seem all that ambitious. However, the waiting time statistics published by the Department of Health reveal that under Belfast Agreement devolution not even this modest goal is likely to be reached.
“In fact, the number of people waiting longer than nine weeks saw a 16.9% rise from the previous month or, to put it another way, a massive 74.8% rise on this time last year! This corresponds to 40.6% of people having to wait more than nine weeks – an increase from just 6.2% in September 2009.
“Waiting times for a first appointment at an Integrated Critical Assessment and Treatment Service, a Diagnostic Service, endoscopy and Inpatient Admission have all seen massive rises as well.
“The simple fact of the matter is that our Health Service – in spite of the valiant efforts of those employed within it – is incapable of delivery. Why? Because in Northern Ireland funds are lavished on cross-border bodies (some £100 million per year), useless quangos and a bloated Stormont.
“Doubtless we will hear much from the politicians on the hill about how unacceptable these figures are. But let’s get serious about slashing waiting times, start delivering on things which really matter to all of our people, both Unionists and Nationalists and slash the waste associated with Belfast Agreement devolution so that we can, in turn, slash the waiting times”
