Hospital inpatient waiting lists in the North are at their lowest for more than two-and-a-half years, it was claimed today.
Even though outpatients are up by almost 3,000, the minister with responsibility for health in the North, Ms Angela Smith, said the total number of people waiting for treatment had fallen for the fourth quarter in a row.
Those waiting for more than 18 months fell by almost 30 per cent over the past year, she said.
Inpatients in September totalled 54,257, compared to 55,414 in June. Outpatients however over the same three month period increased by 2,944 to 151,752.
Fewer people were waiting for cardiac operations with lists cut by almost half over the last 12 months. Emergency admissions were up by over 3,000. The Minister said: "The fact that inpatient waiting lists and waiting times are falling is all the more remarkable when you consider the demand for hospital services continues to rise."
According to Department of Health figures 70 per cent of patients are being seen at outpatients in less than three months, and 96 per cent within 12 months.
PA