Debate contribution: Hip Surgery: Waiting Times

Debate contribution by Mr Brian Kingston on 21 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Brian Kingston
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 21 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Hip Surgery: Waiting Times
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5742257

Text

I thank the Minister for that detail. My question quoted information that I received from a Belfast Trust reply, which said that the estimated waiting time is seven to eight years, which alarmed me. I hope that that does not reflect the reality, as the Minister said. The constituent who contacted me has bone-on-bone agony in his hip. He looked into the waiting list reimbursement scheme, but he asked me to get clarity on the eligibility criteria, because — I will write to the Minister about this — the criteria say that the patient has to have been on the waiting list for one year, but the application form says two years. Is the budget for the waiting list reimbursement scheme used each year, and, if not, should the criteria be changed so that more people can get the treatment for which they have waited so long?

147 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Part of an exchange

This follow-up belongs to: Oral question AQO 3951/22-27.

Assessment

Not analysed

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