Dr Clodagh Corrigan, the deputy chair of the British Medical Association in Northern Ireland, warned there is a life expectancy gap of seven years between those who are well off and those who are not when it comes to patients across the region seeking medical help.
She also questioned what existing services would need to be sacrificed to fund investment in tackling waiting lists.
It comes after Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announced last week that patients waiting longer than two years for an operation will be able to claim back money if they pay for a procedure in the Republic of Ireland.
The Department of Health said patients would require prior approval before accessing the scheme.
It is part of a £215m plan outlined by the Health Minister to help tackle growing hospital waiting lists.
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Stormont Health Minister Mike Nesbitt announcing a package of initiatives to tackle hospital waiting lists in Northern Ireland. Photo: Jonathan McCambridge/PA Wire
Dr Corrigan has been working in emergency departments for the last 14 years.
Speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Politics, she said there is an “enormous gap” in access to services in Northern Ireland where better services are provided to those who “can afford it”.
“We are in a dire situation and our waiting lists are the worst in the UK,” Dr Corrigan said.
“There is an enormous gap in health access and in poverty in Northern Ireland.
“The average life expectancy for those who are the most well off and those who are the least well off varies by just over seven years.
“If we are in any position where we are providing a better health service and better access to health for those who can afford it, we are going to see that disparity become even greater and people who can’t afford to pay for healthcare up front really suffering and with poorer outcomes.”
Mr Nesbitt said full details of the investment plan to tackle waiting lists have yet to be outlined and the full range of eligible procedures covered by the cross-border scheme are not yet known.
He added that, initially, £10m will be invested in the waiting list reimbursement scheme, which will begin in June 2025.
Dr Corrigan questioned what existing services would have to suffer to fund this multi-million-pound investment plan.
“How much worse is the care that we are providing our patients on a day to day basis going to have to get to fund these million-pound savings the minister is looking to invest in the waiting lists?” she questioned.
“We are working within this ever-expanding need and we need more and more to stay afloat.
“With the resources we’ve got we can’t maintain where we currently are, we need more investment and we need to see that leftward shift to primary care.
“Our GP colleagues see one in 10 of our population every week, that is not sustainable, we need that money to be invested well and invested in what’s going to make a difference at prevention level.”