The Health Minister has confirmed that a collective effort across the health service has delivered significant reductions in some of Northern Ireland's longest waiting times, including for several specific paediatric procedures.

The improvements follow a major Department of Health drive focused on elective care and Programme for Government (PfG) priorities. Year-end results for the Elective Care Framework 2025/26 reveal that 385,182 additional assessments, diagnostics, and treatments were completed over the year, excluding separate validation activities used to keep lists accurate. This targeted output focused on primary care elective services, backlog clearance for long waiters, and time-critical or red flag patients.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt stated: "From the outset, I have been clear that tackling waiting lists requires a sharper focus across our health service. Too many people have waited too long for assessment and treatment, often in pain or with uncertainty about their future.

"These results demonstrate what can be achieved through determined leadership, sustained investment and a collective effort across Health and Social Care.

"I am determined that we continue to build on this momentum. Challenges remain and demand continues to grow, but we are demonstrating that focused action, regional working and reform can make a real difference for patients.

"I want to thank staff across our hospitals, community services, primary care and regional teams for the commitment they have shown in helping reduce some of our longest waits and improve outcomes for patients."

The year-end data from the Elective Care Framework 2025/26 highlights substantial progress across several key medical areas:

• Endoscopy waiting lists have reduced by 68% since their peak in June 2022, representing almost 27,000 fewer patients waiting, with a further 38% reduction during 2025/26 alone. • Long waits for MRI scans reduced by 18.5% during the year

• There has also been substantial progress in reducing the longest waits for surgery and treatment. Projected waits of more than four years for inpatient and day case care reduced by 67%, benefiting more than 13,400 patients, while projected outpatient waits of more than four years reduced by 54%, equivalent to more than 54,600 patients.

• Targeted intervention through a £50 million non-recurrent allocation delivered a 99% reduction in named procedures, helping more than 5,300 patients receive treatment. Long waits for procedures including colonoscopy, paediatric squints, PEG tube insertion, laparoscopic cholecystectomy and tonsillectomy were effectively eliminated.

• Long waits for primary hip and knee procedures reduced by 99%, helping hundreds of patients receive surgery more quickly.

• Alongside hospital-based care, 12,181 interventions were delivered through Primary Care Elective Services, helping improve access to treatment while reducing pressure on hospitals.

Professor Mark Taylor, Regional Clinical Director for Elective Care, noted: "While there is still much work to do, these results show that sustained regional collaboration and focused investment are helping more patients access assessment and treatment sooner."

The figures also point to ongoing progress in productivity and regional reform. Theatre utilisation across the region reached 86%, while Day Procedure Centres located in Omagh and Lagan Valley completed 97% and 88% of their commissioned sessions respectively. Furthermore, regional endoscopy centres carried out over 6,000 procedures during the 12-month period, bringing the total to nearly 20,000 procedures since October 2022.

A recently ringfenced £80 million funding package reflects the Executive's ongoing commitment to maintaining this momentum over the next 12 months. Specific details regarding the prioritised activities for this funding will be shared in due course.