NI waiting lists: Rise in year-long waits to see a consultant

The rise applies to patients in Northern Ireland, according to a report by the Department of Health.

The number of people waiting more than a year to see a hospital consultant for the first time has increased.

The rise applies to patients in Northern Ireland, according to a report by the Department of Health.

Ministerial targets aim for no longer than a nine-week wait for a first outpatient appointment.

But at the end of June 2016 more than 30,000 patients were waiting more than 52 weeks for their first appointment. That is 6% more than in June last year.

It also equated to more than 10% of all of those waiting for an appointment - some 225,593 patients.

Tests and procedures

The number of people waiting to be admitted to hospital as an inpatient has also increased.

More than 70,000 patients are on the list for inpatient care - 10,000 more than this time last year.

Of the people on the list for inpatient care, almost 7,000 had been waiting for more than a year.

The waiting times for medical tests or procedures has also gone up.

At the end of June more than 96,000 people were waiting for such a service.