Health spokesperson, Alan Chambers MLA, has said, “I welcome the timely Oral Statement made to the Assembly today by the Minister of Health, Mike Nesbitt MLA, on his departmental investment plan to tackle hospital waiting lists.

“The statement will also be hugely welcomed by those across Northern Ireland who are currently on a waiting list and will offer hope to those who are in pain.

“The Minister used the word ‘urgency’ in his statement and in response to a question from me to give a commitment that his department is approaching, and will continue to approach, this issue with the urgency that patients and staff, and particularly himself will want to see, he give a firm commitment that would be the case.

“I also welcome the reintroduction of the previously successful reimbursement scheme with an initial budget of £10m to commence in June this year. This scheme will allow patients to recover the cost of their procedure if it had been carried out by the local HSC system. It will initially apply to treatment in the Republic of Ireland but will be extended in a second phase to treatment obtained in European Union countries.

“I agree with the Minister that there is a long journey ahead, probably five years, to get waiting list times to an acceptable level.

“If the Executive and the Assembly continue to support his plans, I am confident that the Minister’s targets will be achieved. It is obvious that he is totally committed and personally invested in improving the current unacceptable waiting times that have been the out-working of over a decade of underinvestment and reduction of funding in our vital health services.”