Ulster Unionist MLA Michael McGimpsey has warned that the local Health Service has now passed the point of risking patient safety and a diminishing quality of care for many patients.

Mr McGimpsey, the UUP MLA for South Belfast and former Health Minister, said: 

“As every month goes by the state of our health service deteriorates. The revelation that there has been a 75% rise in the number of patients waiting for appointments at Belfast's Musgrave Park Hospital coincides with that the fact that by the end March this year the total number of people waiting for a first outpatient appointment across Northern Ireland was 192,000. This was a dramatic increase compared to March 2014 when 127,000 people were waiting.

“While the vast majority of patients have a very positive experience of the Health Service a frightening range of specialties are all reporting immense pressures and worsening service provision. These include trauma and orthopaedics, general surgery, urology, ENT and pain management. In addition waiting times in our accident and emergency units are buckling under immense pressure.  The workforce throughout the health service is being pushed to limit.

 “It is a shocking statistic that over 10% of the entire population are right now waiting for a hospital appointment. Very often they are waiting for diagnosis and treatment for debilitating illnesses.

“Even the Health and Social Care Board acknowledge that increased waiting times for assessment may be resulting in delayed diagnosis of serious or life-threatening conditions with reduced likelihood of successful outcomes. For cancer services this is particularly detrimental.”

“The Minister of Health’s priority should be delivering safe and sustainable services, based on need, but that is simply not happening at present. He and his Executive colleagues must act now to put an action plan in place and ensure the Health Service is adequately resourced and staffed to cope with demand so no patients are left in unnecessary pain or discomfort.”