Menu
06/12/2001
Health services are under pressure all year round
The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety Bairbre de Brún has acknowledged that the health service in Northern Ireland is under severe pressure.
The minister’s comments come in the wake of the latest waiting list figures for September 2001, which were released on Thursday December 6. The figures show the number of patients waiting to be admitted to hospitals in Northern Ireland at the end of September stood at just over 56,700. Over the year the total number waiting increased by 6,529 in comparison for the same period last year.
Responding to the statistics, Ms de Brún said problems in the current health service stemmed from “chronic under-funding in the past.”
She said: “Our hospitals and community services are now under pressure all year round. Hospitals are generally operating with occupancy levels in excess of 80 per cent. Despite, three out of four waiting for either an inpatient procedure or an outpatient appointment are seen within three months.”
Earlier this week, the Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mark Durkan announced additional resources for the Department of Health would amount to £2.65 billion. Mr Durkan also announced an additional £15 million was also being made available in the current year to tackle the rising waiting lists.
Taking the budgetary allocation into consideration however Ms de Brún stressed that positive long-term action was only solution to the waiting list problem. “We need long-term action, supported by the resources and service capacity necessary to bring down waiting lists. I welcome the extra funding that has been made available, but it will be a long haul to remedy the funding failures of the past. I have put in place the necessary framework, but there is still a long way to go.” (AMcE)
The minister’s comments come in the wake of the latest waiting list figures for September 2001, which were released on Thursday December 6. The figures show the number of patients waiting to be admitted to hospitals in Northern Ireland at the end of September stood at just over 56,700. Over the year the total number waiting increased by 6,529 in comparison for the same period last year.
Responding to the statistics, Ms de Brún said problems in the current health service stemmed from “chronic under-funding in the past.”
She said: “Our hospitals and community services are now under pressure all year round. Hospitals are generally operating with occupancy levels in excess of 80 per cent. Despite, three out of four waiting for either an inpatient procedure or an outpatient appointment are seen within three months.”
Earlier this week, the Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mark Durkan announced additional resources for the Department of Health would amount to £2.65 billion. Mr Durkan also announced an additional £15 million was also being made available in the current year to tackle the rising waiting lists.
Taking the budgetary allocation into consideration however Ms de Brún stressed that positive long-term action was only solution to the waiting list problem. “We need long-term action, supported by the resources and service capacity necessary to bring down waiting lists. I welcome the extra funding that has been made available, but it will be a long haul to remedy the funding failures of the past. I have put in place the necessary framework, but there is still a long way to go.” (AMcE)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
03 June 2021
Call For Funding Response To Hospital Waiting List Crisis
NI's Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon is urging the Finance Minister to bring forward funding options to help with the current crisis in hospital waiting lists. The SDLP Minister is to propose that the Finance Minister bring forward options for funding a response to the current hospital waiting list crisis.
Call For Funding Response To Hospital Waiting List Crisis
NI's Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon is urging the Finance Minister to bring forward funding options to help with the current crisis in hospital waiting lists. The SDLP Minister is to propose that the Finance Minister bring forward options for funding a response to the current hospital waiting list crisis.
28 May 2021
Call For Urgent Meeting To Address Waiting List Crisis
The SDLP is calling for an urgent meeting with the Finance and Health Ministers after further details of the extent of the waiting list crisis have been published. MLAs Cara Hunter and Matthew O'Toole said that this is the biggest crisis facing people in Northern Ireland and it must be the most urgent priority for political leaders.
Call For Urgent Meeting To Address Waiting List Crisis
The SDLP is calling for an urgent meeting with the Finance and Health Ministers after further details of the extent of the waiting list crisis have been published. MLAs Cara Hunter and Matthew O'Toole said that this is the biggest crisis facing people in Northern Ireland and it must be the most urgent priority for political leaders.
02 March 2006
Inpatient waiting lists reach ten-year low
Waiting lists for inpatients and day-patients have reached their lowest in ten years, Health Minister Shaun Woodward revealed today. The number of people waiting over a year for appointments has almost dropped by 50% over the past quarter.
Inpatient waiting lists reach ten-year low
Waiting lists for inpatients and day-patients have reached their lowest in ten years, Health Minister Shaun Woodward revealed today. The number of people waiting over a year for appointments has almost dropped by 50% over the past quarter.
02 April 2003
Rise in transplant waiting list sparks donor appeal
The latest figures from the office of the Transplant Co-ordinator in Belfast City Hospital have revealed that the number of people in the province awaiting organ transplants has risen. Some 240 people are currently waiting for major organ transplants such as heart, kidney, liver or lungs - an increase of almost 60 people on this time last year.
Rise in transplant waiting list sparks donor appeal
The latest figures from the office of the Transplant Co-ordinator in Belfast City Hospital have revealed that the number of people in the province awaiting organ transplants has risen. Some 240 people are currently waiting for major organ transplants such as heart, kidney, liver or lungs - an increase of almost 60 people on this time last year.
05 December 2002
Rise in hospital waiting lists 'disappointing' says Browne
Hospital waiting lists have risen by almost 3,500 in the past year – leaving Northern Ireland trailing behind its UK counterparts – according to statistics contained in the health department's quarterly review of waiting lists.
Rise in hospital waiting lists 'disappointing' says Browne
Hospital waiting lists have risen by almost 3,500 in the past year – leaving Northern Ireland trailing behind its UK counterparts – according to statistics contained in the health department's quarterly review of waiting lists.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Mostly dry south and east, patchy light rain west and north through much of the day. A band of heavier rain crosses central and northern parts in the morning Maximum temperature 13 °C.Tonight:Dry in the southeast at first otherwise widespread light rain or drizzle for most, turning to clear spells and a few showers towards morning. Minimum temperature 5 °C.
