Pledges of extra cash to tackle escalating hospital waiting lists in Northern Ireland are “qualified”, Mike Nesbitt has told MLAs.
The Health Minister said that while he waited for clarity on extra funding, his instinct was to proceed “at risk” with a “cocktail of measures” to attempt to alleviate pressures.
Northern Ireland has the worst hospital waiting lists in the UK.
The programme for government (PFG), published last week by the Stormont Executive, included a pledge to spend up to £80 million a year to prevent waiting lists getting any longer and £135 million a year to reduce them.
Michelle O’Neill (left) and Emma Little Pengelly (right) unveiled the programme for government last week (David Young/PA)
Mr Nesbitt has written to First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly seeking clarity about the commitments, which he said he only became aware of shortly before the document was published.
At the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew asked if the minister would consider the reintroduction of a cross-border healthcare reimbursement scheme, given the extra funding pledged in the PFG.
Mr Nesbitt said he would like to reintroduce the scheme, but added: “The member talks about the programme for government commitment.
“I have to say that commitment is qualified. If you read what it says about waiting lists, it says ‘given Executive support’ we will get some money.
“It also says ‘up to £135 million’, it doesn’t say £135 million.
“What I am hoping for is the other £80 million that is there to make sure the waiting lists don’t get any larger, that that will be forthcoming because I think it is key to try to stabilise those waiting lists by not allowing them to become any bigger.
“The £135 million was to start reducing the waiting lists. We would need to spend that five times, it is over five years.
“I am not at all confident that £135 million will become available over the course of financial year 25/26.”
The minister said he was seeking clarity on how much additional funding he would receive and when it would be delivered.
He added: “But I am instinctively thinking what I should do is proceed at risk.
“That means thinking about a cocktail of new initiatives.
“Talking to the (health) trusts, talking, whether members like it or not, to the independent sector.
“But also thinking about reintroducing that cross-border scheme.”
Mr Nesbitt said: “We are tending, because of the pressures of the budget, to work hand-to-mouth, day-to-day, living in the day.
“What we need to do is to try and lift our heads up, difficult as it is, and start thinking a little bit more strategically.
“If there is more money coming we will look at all the options.”