Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has outlined how £80 million from the Programme for Government will be invested to reduce waiting times and enhance elective care across Northern Ireland in 2026/27.

The funding will help more patients access earlier assessment, diagnostic tests and treatment by increasing elective capacity across Health and Social Care. Running alongside the investment, ongoing reforms aim to improve productivity, modernise services and make better use of existing facilities and technology to build a more sustainable elective care system.

Mike Nesbitt said: "Patients have waited long enough to see real change. Reducing waiting times remains one of my sharpest priorities as Health Minister because I know the impact long waits have on patients, families and communities across Northern Ireland."

Mike Nesbitt said: "While there is no quick fix, we are making real progress. We have reduced some of the longest waits, increased elective activity and demonstrated what can be achieved when investment, reform and the commitment of our Health and Social Care workforce come together."

Mike Nesbitt said: "Our challenge now is to turn that progress into sustainable improvement. My priority is to ensure every pound of this investment delivers tangible benefits for patients. That means making better use of clinics, diagnostics and elective care facilities; supporting staff to work in innovative and flexible ways; expanding regional approaches where they improve outcomes and efficiency; and directing investment where it can make the greatest difference."

The targeted £80 million in 2026/27 will be directed towards:

- Expanding regional stroke thrombectomy services.

- Growing Dental Foundation Training.

- Boosting general surgery capacity at Causeway Hospital, Daisy Hill Hospital and South West Acute Hospital.

- Continuing investment in women's health and gynaecology services.

- Increasing recurrent capacity across diagnostic imaging, cancer services, robotic surgery and ophthalmology.

- Strengthening vulnerable regional paediatric specialties. - Targeted reduction of waiting lists for high-volume adult elective procedures.

- Focused action to reduce ENT outpatient waiting lists and paediatric treatment backlogs.

- Provision to enable backlog activity for those on Adult Mental Health (AMH) and Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) waiting lists.

The Health Minister added: "One of the strengths of the Elective Care Framework has been the way it has brought the system together. These priorities have been shaped by those delivering care every day. By working alongside Health and Social Care Trusts, clinicians, Royal Colleges and regional service leaders, we are investing in interventions that are evidence-based, deliverable and capable of making a real difference for patients.

"People rightly judge our health service by whether they can access the care they need when they need it. That is the standard I expect, and these priorities are focused on helping us get there.

"This investment is not an end in itself. It is another important step in improving access to care, supporting our workforce and delivering a more resilient, more productive and more sustainable Health and Social Care system for the people of Northern Ireland."

Officials said the package will also sustain initiatives already improving the elective care pathway, including:

- GP Federations providing more assessment and treatment closer to home, supporting the neighbourhood model and improving patient flow.

- Pre-Operative Assessment services to optimise patients before surgery, reduce cancellations and maximise theatre use.

- Expansion of training places and continued support for trainees entering vulnerable specialties to strengthen the workforce.

- Community phlebotomy hubs to improve access to diagnostics and support elective and cancer pathways.

- Third sector organisations offering practical and emotional support while patients await treatment.

- Investment priorities developed with Health and Social Care Trusts, clinicians, Royal Colleges, regional clinical networks and elective care programme leads.

- Final allocations informed by clinical priority, deliverability, workforce availability and service need to ensure investment delivers the greatest benefit for patients.