Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has welcomed what he calls "very real progress" in efforts to reduce the longest waiting times across the health service.

The Department of Health has provided an update on its Elective Care Framework: Implementation and Funding Plan, highlighting reductions in long waits, expanded capacity, and fairer care throughout Northern Ireland.

Emphasising that patients remain the focus of the entire system, the Minister pointed to key reductions in the longest waiting lists. Outpatient waits of more than four years are down by 14%, and surgical waits of over four years have fallen by 21%. In named specialties like tonsils and gallbladders, waiting times have been reduced by almost a quarter.

"These are early steps, but they show that focus and investment can change lives," the Minister said. "The progress we are now seeing is very real. Since April, almost 59,000 additional treatments, assessments and diagnostic tests have been delivered, putting us on track to hit the Programme for Government target."

Mr Nesbitt also pointed to significant improvements in key service areas. Endoscopy waits are now less than half the peak seen in 2022. For children, the improvements are even more pronounced, with no child expected to wait more than a year for an endoscopy. The Minister also stated that by March 2026, no child should have to wait more than 13 weeks for scoliosis, cleft lip, or squint surgery.

"That will make a real difference for families," he concluded. Professor Mark Taylor, recently appointed as Northern Ireland’s first Regional Clinical Director for Elective Care, said:

"This very welcome progress is linked to the principles set out in both the Elective Care Framework and the Minister’s Three Year Plan to Stabilise, Reform and Deliver across the Health and Social Care system, with our Health Social Care staff working together as one team.

"We are continuing to put Bengoa into action. One system, working together, reducing inequalities across Trusts, delivering fairer and more consistent access and building resilience into health and social care. That is how we achieve better outcomes for patients."

Minister Nesbitt thanked staff for their tremendous efforts.

"This was never going to be a quick fix. But through keeping the big picture in mind and working together as one team, we will continue to make progress. Northern Ireland is too small for different parts of the health and social care system to be in competition.

"Patients will remain at the centre of our mission to build a health service that is fairer, stronger and sustainable."

Highlights:

• Almost 59,000 additional outpatient, diagnostic and inpatient procedures delivered – well on track to meet the 70,000 target set in the Programme for Government.

• 14% reduction in patients waiting more than four years for an outpatient appointment.

• 21% reduction in patients waiting more than four years for surgery.

• 24% reduction in long-wait procedures such as gallbladders and tonsils.

• Endoscopy backlog halved since the 2022 peak.

Paediatric care – by March 2026, no child should wait more than 13 weeks for scoliosis, cleft lip or squint surgery.