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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Big drop in hospital wait lists | Big drop in hospital wait lists |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| ospital waiting lists have been cut drastically in the last year, Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has said. | |
| The minister said the majority of targets were met, with "significant improvements" across the board. | The minister said the majority of targets were met, with "significant improvements" across the board. |
| Challenging targets for outpatient assessment, diagnostics and treatment had been met, he said. | Challenging targets for outpatient assessment, diagnostics and treatment had been met, he said. |
| "The improvement in A&E performance is perhaps the most remarkable - without any major new money, we have all but eliminated long trolley waits." | "The improvement in A&E performance is perhaps the most remarkable - without any major new money, we have all but eliminated long trolley waits." |
| He said across Northern Ireland 92% of patients were waiting less than four hours in A&E units, according to figures at the end of March. | He said across Northern Ireland 92% of patients were waiting less than four hours in A&E units, according to figures at the end of March. |
| "This is a significant achievement which shows the real benefits of teams in trusts working with focus, sharing improved practice and cooperative working across the health and social care service," he said. | "This is a significant achievement which shows the real benefits of teams in trusts working with focus, sharing improved practice and cooperative working across the health and social care service," he said. |
| The minister said that two years ago, there were 110,000 people waiting more than 13 weeks for a first outpatient appointment, but this had been reduced to 55 at the end of last month. | The minister said that two years ago, there were 110,000 people waiting more than 13 weeks for a first outpatient appointment, but this had been reduced to 55 at the end of last month. |
| 'Remarkable' | 'Remarkable' |
| In the same period, the number of patients waiting more than 21 weeks for surgery fell from 10,000 to just 56 people. | In the same period, the number of patients waiting more than 21 weeks for surgery fell from 10,000 to just 56 people. |
| Ambulance response times have improved also in the past year - the number of emergency calls responded to within eight minutes rose from 55% in April 2007 to 68% in March 2008. | Ambulance response times have improved also in the past year - the number of emergency calls responded to within eight minutes rose from 55% in April 2007 to 68% in March 2008. |
| Mr McGimpsey also said that 74% of fractures were treated within 48 hours, compared to 51% in August last year. | Mr McGimpsey also said that 74% of fractures were treated within 48 hours, compared to 51% in August last year. |
| "This is a remarkable achievement," he said. | "This is a remarkable achievement," he said. |