Debate contribution: Hip Surgery: Waiting Times

Debate contribution by Mr Robbie Butler on 21 September 2026.

MLA: Mr Robbie Butler
Party at the time: Ulster Unionist Party
Date: 21 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution (made as a minister)
Business: Oral Answers to Questions
Heading: Hip Surgery: Waiting Times
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5742279

Text

I thank the Member for his question and for his long-term service on the Health Committee. We absolutely have to deal with patients who have had to wait far too long, but, as Minister, I recognise that we also have to address the underlying capacity problems. That is why funding has been confirmed for additional orthopaedic consultants, beds, theatres and sessions across our health and social care services. In the Belfast Trust alone, an additional £3·3 million is supporting increased trauma capacity at the Royal Victoria Hospital and orthopaedic capacity at Musgrave Park Hospital. I thank the staff at Musgrave Park for the warm welcome that I got and for giving me the chance to look at the facility there, which really is world-class. I make no apology for using available independent-sector capacity where it gets our HSC patients treated sooner, but my objective is also to build stronger and more sustainable capacity in our health service.

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

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