Health minister urged to listen to medics

By Q Radio News

The health minister is being urged to listen to professionals when it comes to tackling long waiting lists in Northern Ireland. 

It comes after the Royal College of Surgeons outlined a 10-step plan which will require £1bn over five years. 

The vice-chair of Stormont’s health committee warned that the extremely timely intervention by local surgeons underlines the extent of the growing crisis. 

Pam Cameron also said it also proves the immediate need for sustained policies to combat the impact of underinvestment in the NHS here. 

The health minister is being urged to listen to professionals when it comes to tackling long waiting lists in Northern Ireland. https://t.co/xLpAw7AViW

— Q Radio News (@qnewsdesk) May 26, 2021

"This is an extremely timely intervention by local surgeons. Their report underlines the growing crisis facing waiting list for surgery across Northern Ireland and the need for immediate and sustained policies to defend and expand service capacity moving forward.

The pandemic has thrown a spotlight on the impact of underinvestment in our health service and the collective failure by government to insist on the reforms needed to improve outcome for local patients. As relaxations take effect it is critical that the opportunity afforded by the Covid recovery to right this wrong does not turn into another false dawn."

She added: 

"It is clear that sizeable and recurrent financial support from the Executive will be needed to deliver on these aims in the shortest possible timeframe. The Health Committee has heard that £750m-£1bn will be needed to tackle elective waiting lists over the coming years. Crucially this figure will continue to rise unless the process of reform starts today, not tomorrow.

"Covid-19 has taught us all to do things differently and often this has brought personal benefits. It is vital that the same momentum for transforming our health service is harnessed as the Covid-19 recovery moves through the gears. In this vein I would implore the Health Minister to engage positively with the Royal College of Surgeons and other professional bodies in the coming days to press forward with the case for urgent reform.’’

(Health Minister Robin Swann is being urged to listen to health care professionals on the issue of waiting lists)