Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy has said it is extremely concerning that more than 1 in 4 people here are waiting for an inpatient or outpatient appointment.

Speaking after new Department of Health figures for waiting lists were released, Conor Murphy said:

“428,000 on waiting lists is more than just a number; it represents people who are experiencing life impacting problems which are not being addressed. And in the worst cases people are dying as a result of being diagnosed late.

“One party’s reckless boycott of the Executive is preventing locally elected ministers from supporting patients on waiting lists and working to reduce these.

“Savage Tory cuts to our public services should end now and instead deliver proper funding to tackle the huge problems that exist now.

“Public patience has run out. Patients suffering for years on waiting lists can’t wait. We need a properly funded Executive restored now and parties working together to fix the health service and tackle chronic waiting lists.”