Sinn Féin MLA Linda Dillon has said the public desperately need an Executive to tackle growing waiting lists.

Responding to a report released by the Audit Office, the party’s health spokesperson said:

“Every one of these alarming figures represents a person suffering, with around 1 in 4 people now on a waiting list.

“This is distressing for patients and their families as life impacting health problems are not being addressed, and in the worst cases people are dying as a result of being diagnosed late.

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

“The public’s patience has run out, they need an Executive that has their backs, and is working to fix the health service and tackle growing waiting lists.

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