Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has underscored the significant achievements at Daisy Hill Hospital in efforts to reduce Northern Ireland's lengthy waiting lists.

He highlighted the hospital's increasingly important function within the wider, regional transformation of elective care delivery.

The Minister's comments came during a visit where he toured the hospital's operating theatres, the Elective Overnight Stay Centre (EOSC), and the paediatric elective ward. He took the opportunity to recognise the ongoing work aimed at boosting planned surgical capacity and achieving improved patient outcomes.

"Reducing waiting lists is one of my central priorities as Health Minister. But this is not just about speed — it is about transforming how we deliver care, ensuring patients receive the right treatment in the right place, with better outcomes and a more consistent experience," the Health Minister stated.

He confirmed that the Elective Care Framework provides the blueprint for this reform, and Daisy Hill is demonstrating how dedicated capacity for planned procedures can realise that vision in practice.

"Elective Overnight Stay Centres like this one help provide reliable space for planned procedures, improving productivity and giving renewed hope to patients who have been waiting too long. I am encouraged by the good work taking place across Northern Ireland to increase elective capacity and tackle our longest waits, and Daisy Hill is contributing to that broader progress." Since April 2023, the Daisy Hill EOSC has facilitated the completion of nearly 11,000 elective surgical procedures. These procedures span a wide array of specialties, including urology, breast, gynaecology, ENT, dermatology, general surgery, paediatric surgery, oral surgery, dental, and endoscopy. Furthermore, the hospital features a dedicated paediatric theatre and recovery ward, which actively supports the regional drive to shorten long waiting times for children.

Minister Nesbitt added: "Daisy Hill is making steady progress in supporting regional elective recovery. This work reflects the commitment and professionalism of staff across the hospital, and I want to acknowledge their efforts as part of the wider transformation taking place across our health service. We must continue to build on this momentum. Better outcomes for patients will remain my focus as Minister, and that requires sustained investment, collaboration and reform across the whole system."

The most recent waiting list statistics show definite positive trends across the region:

• Approximately 164,000 patients identified as red flag and time-critical have been seen, treated, or diagnosed.

• Waits exceeding four years for 'Named procedures' (such as tonsillectomy, colonoscopy, and hips) have seen a reduction of 62%.

• Outpatient waits exceeding four years have decreased by 35%, affecting 35,319 patients.

• Treatment waits exceeding four years are down by 47%, representing 9,411 patients.

The Health Minister concluded: "There is still a significant amount of work to do, but the progress being made — here at Daisy Hill and across the region — shows that improvement is possible. We will continue working to deliver faster, safer and more sustainable care for patients."