Elective day care centres to open in bid to tackle waiting times
Department of Health says routine surgery hubs will go live in December
Last updated 24th Oct 2018
A new healthcare prototype which could see ministerial targets reached within three years will be piloted from December.
As part of plans by the Department of Health to transform the health service here, patients needing operations for varicose veins and cataracts will be treated in regional facilities.
Varicose vein operations will be performed at Lagan Valley and Omagh hospitals, while those needing cataract surgery will be seen in Mid Ulster, Downe and South Tyrone hospitals.
The idea is to reduce waiting times and alleviate pressures in emergency medicine.
The Department predicts two and a half thousand more patients could receive treatment annually through the pilot scheme.
Chief Medical Officer Doctor Michael McBride said waiting times will also be significantly reduced:
"We've given a commitment that once the assessment is completed... from December 2019, no one will be waiting longer than one year for either cataract surgery or vein treatment."
And the Department also pledged to ensure that no cataract and varicose vein patient will wait longer than 26 weeks by December 2020 and all patients will be treated within the ministerial target of 13 weeks by December 2021.
Although patients will have to travel further for surgery, the department hopes it will mean an improvement in services and a decrease in overall waiting times, whilst also reducing strain on already stretched services.
The Chief Medical Officer said it will be worthwhile in the long term:
"It is a small price worth paying, there is nothing more frustrating for patients to have their operations cancelled because we're competing with the same resource.
"There is also nothing more frustrating for staff to have to tell people their long-awaited procedure is being cancelled.
"This will hopefully benefit people accessing services but also, will be of huge benefit for those staff who are so frustrated given the waiting times that we currently have. Dr McBride said it will be worth it:
"That is a model which I think is worth us trying, testing and in due course to see if that informs proposals that we would put to an incoming minister about a new model of care."
It is hoped the model will eventually be rolled out across all specialties, as part of longer term plans to tackle waiting lists and transform the Northern Ireland health service.
"In the longer term this is part of a bigger dialogue and conversation with the public about how we provide services in Northern Ireland.
"Part of the conversation that's starting today through these proposals 'are you prepared to travel further to get access to the care and the treatment that you need?' And the answer to that from the public was yes.
"We're building on the proposals which were endorsed in the elective care plan by the then Minister back in February 2017.
"We have done the modelling, we know that when we introduce these models it's been estimated that we will increase our productivity by upwards of 30%.
"That's going to make a real and meaningful difference for people who are currently waiting too long."
The Secretary of State Karen Bradley praised the Department for their approach:
"I welcome today's announcement by the Department of Health and the improvements it is expected to bring to waiting lists and patient care as a result.
"Whilst this is positive news, further progress on waiting lists, in general, is needed," she said.
She added: It is vital that a functional Executive is in place to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland and It remains my priority to see the Executive restored as quickly as possible.
"The Bill I am bringing through the House of Commons tomorrow is designed to create time for further talks with the parties towards this end."
The number enduring lengthy waits for some surgical procedures in Northern Ireland was higher than in England this year, NHS statistics revealed.
BMA Northern Ireland Council chair Dr Tom Black said: "Elective care - which is essentially non-urgent surgery or treatment - can often be cancelled at the last minute due to bed or staff shortages.
"By having these services delivered away from acute hospital sites it means staff are not pulled away to treat urgent cases.
"This will hopefully mean certainty for patients who will not have their procedure cancelled at the last minute."