BMA call for radical action to reduce waiting lists

The British Medical Association in Northern Ireland has again called for radical action to reduce the continuing climb in waiting list figures for the province.

The Association highlighted its serious concerns that the DHSSPS is "failing to address this steadily rising trend" and has called on the Department and the NI Assembly to take "assertive action to halt what it sees is a downward spiral to a third rate health service".

The latest waiting list figures revealed a 1% rise in the number of people waiting for hospital inpatient treatment.

Speaking on behalf of the Association, Dr Brian Patterson, Vice Chairman of the BMA's NI Council, said: "It must be remembered that each statistic represents a patient who is suffering because of the failure by the Department of Health here to address this totally unacceptable situation.

"Doctors do not want waiting lists and are working at capacity with their other health colleagues to provide the best possible service they can for patients. They are however being impeded by the bureaucracy, lack of resources and total lack of decision-making within the healthcare system. They do not want to offer an apology of a health service to the people of Northern Ireland and that is what is happening. Patients deserve better than that, as do the people operating the service.

"It is not enough to just pour money into the NHS. It must be targeted to where it is most needed, within the context of a coherent strategic plan, otherwise finance disappears into the NHS abyss and is lost.

"It is time for the DHSSPS to stop consulting and start deciding. We need more doctors, more nurses, more beds and a process of monitoring and accountability that will ensure funding is directed to solving the significant problems facing patients.

"The problem exists now - it is not enough for the Department to offer solutions that will only be felt years down the line."

Yesterday, Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Bairbre de Brún, put hospital Trusts "on notice" that she expects them to deliver on waiting list targets.

The Minister said she was concerned about the increase and said that the target this year was to hold waiting lists at their present levels. She said she would be "looking to the service, and particularly Chief Executives of Trusts, to get us back on course".

(SP)