Northern Ireland patients are three times as likely to be waiting for hospital treatment as those in the Republic, according to the latest official statistics.
Analysis of the latest figures from both sides of the border shows that Northern Ireland has 454 people per 1,000 population on waiting lists, compared to just 142 per 1,000 in the south, a rate of 3.2 times higher.
This means that nearly 600,000 fewer people, more than the population of Belfast, would not be on waiting lists if Northern Ireland matched the Republic’s healthcare performance.
Hospital waiting list patients per 1,000 population
Meanwhile, the disparity between the two health systems becomes even more stark when patients waiting longer than a year for treatment is put into focus.
In Northern Ireland, 55.6% of all outpatients (301,753 people) have been waiting more than a year for an appointment, according to the latest figures.
However, in the south, just 97,879 outpatients (16.0%) have waited that long.
This means that Northern Ireland patients are 3.5 times more likely to wait over a year for an outpatient appointment.
The median outpatient wait in Northern Ireland stands at 64.1 weeks – over 15 months, according to the figures.
For inpatient and day case procedures, 41.6% of Northern Ireland patients (38,166 people) have waited longer than 52 weeks, compared to 16.3% (17,483 people) in the south.
This means that patients in the north are 2.6 times more likely to face year-long waits for surgery or procedures.
Patients waiting longer than 52 weeks
The comparison uses the most recent available data for both jurisdictions and such lists are published monthly in the south, while quarterly figures are published in Northern Ireland.
The stark contrast has drawn condemnation with SDLP Opposition Health Spokesperson Colin McGrath describing the situation as “the worst anywhere in these islands”.
“While not perfect, it comes as no surprise that the health service in the South is leaps and bounds beyond what people can access here in the North,” he told The Irish News.
“Waiting lists in the North are the worst anywhere in these islands and action to tackle this have been minimal, with Ministers and the Executive tinkering around the edges instead of addressing the fundamental issues that would substantially reduce waits.
“Nobody should have to wait for vital healthcare and those with these conditions often see both their mental and physical health deteriorate as they sit on a waiting list, putting huge strain on them and their families. Around one in four people in the North are on a waiting list, there is nobody who has not been touched in some way for the fight to access healthcare in a timely manner.
“It’s ridiculous that people living in Enniskillen or Newry face disproportionately longer waits than their neighbours living just a few miles away on the other side of the border. The SDLP has been clear that we should be looking at expanding cross-border healthcare to address the deficiencies in both systems to provide people on both sides of the border with the highest standards of care in a timely manner.”
The Department of Health has been contacted for comment.