Executive to release £80 million of ringfenced funding to tackle waiting lists

By David Young (Press Association)

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has welcomed an Executive decision to release £80 million of ringfenced funding to tackle waiting lists in Northern Ireland.

The measure was contained in a draft Stormont budget for this year and ministers have decided to approve the funding allocation despite an ongoing impasse on striking a final budget for the powersharing administration.

Mr Nesbitt said the decision would ensure “momentum” would not be lost after recent progress to cut the region’s lengthy waiting times for elective care.

He said the money would also be spent on capacity building within the health service, and signalled that it would likely enable the move to providing specialist thrombectomy treatment for stroke victims on a 24-hour basis.

“The Executive gave me £50 million last year for waiting list initiatives, and we more than exceeded the Programme for Government target (for reducing waiting times),” the minister told reporters on Thursday.

“My argument was if we didn’t have a budget for waiting lists this year, we would lose momentum. The danger being it would be written off as a one-year wonder.

“There was £80 million for waiting lists and capacity building in the draft budget, and I’ve asked the Executive to let me start spending that, and they have agreed to that.

“And you’ll see not just waiting list initiatives, but capacity building. And the first positive announcement you’re likely to hear is that we’re moving to 24/7 thrombectomy stroke services.”

Mr Nesbitt said “real progress” was being made to cut waiting times.

“Waiting lists in time-critical and red flag areas are falling, capacity is increasing and staff across our health and social care system are delivering for patients every day in exceptionally challenging circumstances,” he said.

“But we know there is much more to do, and sustained investment alongside reform will be essential if we are to maintain momentum.”