03/06/2025
New £10m Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme Now Live
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has welcomed the opening of the new Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme, a £10 million investment designed to address Northern Ireland's extensive hospital waiting lists.
The scheme, which went live on June 2, 2025, offers eligible patients the opportunity to reclaim costs for treatments received outside Northern Ireland.
This initiative is a key part of a broader strategy to reduce healthcare backlogs and improve patient outcomes. Under the scheme, individuals who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland and have been on a Health and Social Care (HSC) waiting list for two years or more can now seek private treatment, initially in the Republic of Ireland, with the assurance that costs will be reimbursed up to the HSC equivalent rate.
Minister Nesbitt stated: "This £10m investment is an important step in addressing the serious challenges posed by long hospital waiting lists. As I outlined to the Assembly, this Scheme is part of a much wider package of initiatives to reduce backlogs and deliver better outcomes for patients." He reiterated his commitment to introducing further measures to ensure patients receive timely care.
The scheme is being implemented in phases:
• Phase One (from June 2, 2025): Reimbursement for eligible treatments received in the Republic of Ireland.
• Phase Two (Autumn 2025): Planned extension to cover treatments across the wider European Union.
Crucially, patients must obtain prior approval from the Department of Health before proceeding with any treatment; retrospective applications will not be accepted.
To assist patients, a dedicated online information hub has been launched, providing comprehensive guidance on how to apply, eligibility criteria, frequently asked questions, and access to the application form.
The hub can be accessed on the following link: online.hscni.net/our-work/travelfortreatment/wl-reimbursement/
A new helpline, staffed by a dedicated team is available to help with patient enquiries or to provide support completing applications. The helpline will be available Monday to Friday 10am-4pm on T: 028 9536 8303.
The scheme, which went live on June 2, 2025, offers eligible patients the opportunity to reclaim costs for treatments received outside Northern Ireland.
This initiative is a key part of a broader strategy to reduce healthcare backlogs and improve patient outcomes. Under the scheme, individuals who are ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland and have been on a Health and Social Care (HSC) waiting list for two years or more can now seek private treatment, initially in the Republic of Ireland, with the assurance that costs will be reimbursed up to the HSC equivalent rate.
The scheme is being implemented in phases:
• Phase One (from June 2, 2025): Reimbursement for eligible treatments received in the Republic of Ireland.
• Phase Two (Autumn 2025): Planned extension to cover treatments across the wider European Union.
Crucially, patients must obtain prior approval from the Department of Health before proceeding with any treatment; retrospective applications will not be accepted.
To assist patients, a dedicated online information hub has been launched, providing comprehensive guidance on how to apply, eligibility criteria, frequently asked questions, and access to the application form.
The hub can be accessed on the following link: online.hscni.net/our-work/travelfortreatment/wl-reimbursement/
A new helpline, staffed by a dedicated team is available to help with patient enquiries or to provide support completing applications. The helpline will be available Monday to Friday 10am-4pm on T: 028 9536 8303.
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
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.
22 May 2017
Concerns Raised Over Adult Mental Health Patients
The number of adult mental health patients waiting longer than nine weeks to access key services has more than doubled from 338 in March 2016 to over 800 in March 2017, according to new figures. Ulster Unionist Mental Health spokesperson, Robbie Butler MLA, warned that mental health patients could be coming to harm.
Concerns Raised Over Adult Mental Health Patients
The number of adult mental health patients waiting longer than nine weeks to access key services has more than doubled from 338 in March 2016 to over 800 in March 2017, according to new figures. Ulster Unionist Mental Health spokesperson, Robbie Butler MLA, warned that mental health patients could be coming to harm.
02 September 2005
Outpatient hospital waiting list figures rise
The number of people waiting for a first outpatient appointment has increased in the last three months by almost 6%. The figures published by the Department of Health revealed that the number of patients waiting for an initial outpatient consultation had risen by 9,385 to 176,523, an increase of 5.6% on the previous quarter.
Outpatient hospital waiting list figures rise
The number of people waiting for a first outpatient appointment has increased in the last three months by almost 6%. The figures published by the Department of Health revealed that the number of patients waiting for an initial outpatient consultation had risen by 9,385 to 176,523, an increase of 5.6% on the previous 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.
30 May 2025
£10m Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme To Launch Next Week
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has confirmed that Northern Ireland's new £10 million Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme will commence on 02 June, 2025. The scheme aims to address the significant challenges posed by long hospital waiting lists by allowing eligible patients to reclaim costs for treatments received outside Northern Ireland.
£10m Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme To Launch Next Week
Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has confirmed that Northern Ireland's new £10 million Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme will commence on 02 June, 2025. The scheme aims to address the significant challenges posed by long hospital waiting lists by allowing eligible patients to reclaim costs for treatments received outside Northern Ireland.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.