Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has visited a specialized 'Mega Clinic' at Musgrave Park Hospital, where a multidisciplinary team is working to clear a backlog of adult spinal appointments. The weekend event is focused on reviewing approximately 123 long-waiting patients, some of whom have been on the list for more than two years.

The clinic serves as a "one-stop-shop" where surgical, physiotherapy, nursing, and administrative staff are co-located to provide streamlined assessments and treatment plans. This intensive, single-day approach is expected to reduce the total waiting time for the specialty by 11 weeks.

During his visit this morning, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt said: "I am committed to reducing long waits through expanding capacity in our health and care system, and today's clinic represents real progress for patients. These weekend clinics are not only delivering a significant reduction in waiting lists, but this clinic will also be life-changing for many people seen today. The spinal clinic will reduce overall waiting times by 11 weeks, with the co-location of the team during the clinic increasing the number of patients seen during the day. "Spinal patients assessed here by the multidisciplinary team have been waiting too long, and many of them leave today's clinic with clarity on the next stage in their treatment. We need to continue to look at transformative ways of providing care for our patients and the Mega Clinic model has had a significant impact on reducing the number of people waiting for spinal and related orthopaedic procedures across Northern Ireland."

The Minister also addressed the need for stable investment to maintain such initiatives, noting that while the model is effective, recurrent funding is essential to meet growing demand within a tight financial landscape.

Professor Mark Taylor, Regional Clinical Director for Elective Care, highlighted the personal impact of the initiative. Professor Taylor said: "Mega Clinics are one part of our overall strategy to reduce longer waiting lists and, going forward, I can see the positive impact in expanding such clinics to other specialties. As clinicians, we are acutely aware that behind the statistics are people suffering in pain and distress. I would like to thank all my colleagues for giving up their Saturday to help 123 people with spinal issues."

The Mega Clinic model is one of several ongoing efforts aimed at transforming the regional health care system and improving the delivery of elective care for patients across Northern Ireland.