Rise in patients waiting over a year for hospital care

The targets suggest no patient should wait over a year. Credit: PA

Almost 95,000 people have been waiting more than a year for hospital treatment in Northern Ireland, according to the latest figures.

The Health Department said 94,953 are on the waiting list for a first outpatient appointment, and 21,477 for an inpatient appointment.

Government targets require that no patients should be waiting longer than 52 weeks for treatment, however the target hasn’t been completely met here in over 12 years.

The Royal College of Surgeons said the figures published on Thursday were “distressing”.

Mark Taylor from the charity said: “All levels of the health and social care system are in agreement that such figures are totally unacceptable.

“Our health services need the resources to close the gap between growing demand and the capacity of the system to meet that demand.

“This requires sustained and guaranteed investment over a number of years.”