The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety today published the March 2010 Northern Ireland Waiting List Statistics Release.
The waiting list statistics release shows detailed information on the number of people waiting for a first outpatient appointment, a diagnostic test or inpatient treatment at hospitals in Northern Ireland.

Key facts and figures for NI Waiting Times at end of March 2010

Waiting Times for a First Outpatient Appointment

The 2009/10 Ministerial target relating to outpatient waiting times states that from April 2009 no patient should wait longer than nine weeks for a first outpatient appointment.
Overall

The total number of people waiting for a first outpatient appointment at the end of March 2010 was 86,501.
This represented an increase of 3,931 (4.8%) on the previous quarter (end of December 2009) and an increase of 17,746 (25.8%) over the year (compared with the March 2009 quarter).
Patients waiting over nine weeks

At the end of March 2010, there were 8,581 (9.9%) patients waiting more than nine weeks for a first outpatient appointment, of which 4,570 were waiting more than 13 weeks. The number of patients waiting longer than the maximum waiting time target represented a decrease of 7,134 on the figure for the previous quarter (15,715), but was up 8,093 on the corresponding quarter in 2009 (488).
Completed Outpatient Waits for a First Appointment (including those who failed to attend or who were deferred)

A total of 133,165 patients attended a first outpatient appointment during the March 2010 quarter. This figure includes all activity commissioned by the Health Service in Health and Social Care hospitals and also includes outpatient activity, commissioned by the Health Service, which is undertaken by the independent sector at locations other than Health and Social Care hospitals.
Waiting Times for a Diagnostic Service

The 2009/10 Ministerial target relating to diagnostic services states that from April 2009, no patient should wait longer than 9 weeks for one of the selected diagnostic tests (13 weeks for a day case endoscopy) and by 31st March 2010, no patient should wait longer than 9 weeks for all diagnostic tests (13 weeks for a day case endoscopy).
Overall

The total number of patients waiting at the end of March 2010 for a diagnostic service was 48,371. Due to the nature of the 2009/10 Ministerial target, comparisons with previous quarters are not available.
Patients waiting over the target

At the end of March 2010, there were 1,687 patients waiting over the 2009/10 waiting time target for all diagnostic services, with 232 of these patients waiting more than the 13/21 week target set for 2007/08.
Waiting Times for Inpatient Admission

The 2009/10 Ministerial target relating to inpatient waiting times states that from April 2009 no patient should wait longer than 13 weeks for inpatient treatment.
Overall

The total number of patients waiting for treatment at the end of March 2010 was 36,052.
This total has decreased by 756 (2.1%) compared with the previous quarter (end of December 2009), and has increased by 3,389 (10.4%) compared with the same quarter in the previous year (end of March 2009).
Patients waiting over 13 weeks

At the end of March 2010, there were 3,289 (9.1%) patients waiting more than 13 weeks for inpatient treatment, of which 662 were waiting more than 21 weeks. The number of patients waiting longer than the maximum waiting time target represented a decrease of 2,721 on the figure for the previous quarter (6,010), but was up 2,902 on the number waiting over 13 weeks at the end of March 2009.
Completed Inpatient Waits (including those who failed to attend or who were deferred)

A total of 51,697 inpatients were admitted to hospital, following an inpatient wait, during the March 2010 quarter. This figure includes all activity commissioned by the Health Service in Health and Social Care hospitals and also includes inpatient activity, commissioned by the Health Service, which is undertaken by the independent sector at locations other than Health and Social Care hospitals.