Northern Ireland Outpatient Waiting Time Statistics
National Statistics
All statistics contained within this publication are National Statistics except for outpatient activity statistics.
Published by: Information & Analysis
Directorate, Department of Health
Statisticians: Brian Reilly, Ben Simpson & Siobhán
Morgan
Contact: statistics@health-ni.gov.uk
Reporting Date: 30 June 2023
Publication Date: 31 August 2023
Date of Next Publication: 30 November 2023
Coverage: Northern Ireland
Frequency: Quarterly
This statistical release presents information on waiting times for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment in Northern Ireland and reports on the performance of the Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts against the draft waiting times target, which states that:
“50% of patients should wait no longer than nine weeks for a first outpatient appointment; with no patient waiting longer than 52 weeks.”
Information is detailed on the number of patients waiting and length of time waiting by HSC Trust and specialty. Provisional statistics on outpatient activity are also included.
All of the data contained in this release are published on the NISRA Data Portal and in CSV format to facilitate secondary analysis. These data are available at the following links:
https://data.nisra.gov.uk/product/HWTS
Statistics in this report refer to the number of patients waiting and the length of time they had been waiting as at the reporting date. They do not indicate completed waiting times or expected future waiting times.
💬 Statistical Outputs Consultation
The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency has launched a consultation on proposed changes to a range of statistical outputs and is seeking the views of users on these proposals. Further information on the consultation and how to respond can be found on the consultation page.
Key Figures
First Consultant-led Outpatient Appointment Waiting Times
A total of 416,022 patients were waiting for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment at hospitals in Northern Ireland on 30 June 2023, 3.7% (14,821) more than than on 31 March 2023 (401,201), and 10.1% (38,265) more than on 30 June 2022 (377,757).
52.1% of patients were waiting for an appointment under the General Surgery, ENT, Ophthalmology, Gynaecology or Dermatology specialties.
The median waiting time was 52.4 weeks and the 95th percentile waiting times was 251.6 weeks.
82.1% (341,715) of patients were waiting more than nine weeks for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment on 30 June 2023, compared with 81.3% (326,241) on 31 March 2023 and 81.6% (308,304) on 30 June 2022.
49% (203,682) of patients were waiting more than 52 weeks for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment 30 June 2023, compared with 49.2% (197,345) on 31 March 2023 and 51.5% (194,685) on 30 June 2022.
Outpatient Waiting List
As at 30 June 2023, there were 416,022 patients waiting for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment at hospitals in Northern Ireland.
The number of patients waiting has increased by 3.7% (14,821) from 31 March 2023 and increased by 10.1% (38,265) from 30 June 2022.
Patients can be waiting for more than one first outpatient
appointment. The figure of 416,022 patients waiting refers to the number
of patient pathways and is the total number of first appointments being
waited on. This relates to approximately 340,000 individuals.
Figure 1: Patients Waiting for a First Consultant-led Outpatient Appointment
30 June 2008 to 30 June 2023
This line chart shows that the number of patients waiting has risen steadily from 99,774 on 31 March 2013 to 416,022 on 30 June 2023.
Waiting List by Specialty
At 30 June 2023, the largest waiting lists were for General Surgery (55,348 patients) and Ophthalmology (43,686 patients).
General Surgery, Ophthalmology, ENT, Gynaecology, Dermatology, Paediatrics, T & O Surgery and Gastroenterology specialties all had more than 20,000 patients on their waiting lists.
Since 30 June 2022 the Gynaecology waiting list showed the largest growth (6,570 additional patients) and Rheumatology showed the largest reduction (1,002 fewer patients).
Of specialties with at least 5,000 patients waiting, the greatest proportionate growth was in the Paediatrics specialty, which grew by 22.5% (4,093 patients). The greatest proportionate reduction was in the Rheumatology specialty, with 4.9% (1,002) fewer patients.
Figure 2: Patients Waiting for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment by Specialty
30 June 2023 compared with 30 June 2022
The bar chart above shows the number of patients waiting for an appointment in each specialty at 30 June 2023, with markers comparing numbers at 30 June 2022. Only specialties with at least 500 patients waiting are shown.
Median and 95th Percentile Waiting Times
Exclusions From This Analysis
Paedaetrics, Genito-Urinary Medicine, Learning Disabilty and Old Age Psychiatry specialties are excluded from this analysis due to limited data availability.
Information required to produce this analysis is not available prior to 30 June 2020.
The median waiting time is the middle value when all patients
are ordered by length of time waiting. This is preferred over the mean
as an average of waiting times because waiting times tend to be skewed
by longer waits and therefore more patients are waiting for less time
than the mean.
The 95th percentile waiting time is the length of time that 95% of patients have been waiting equal to or less than i.e. one in twenty patients have been waiting longer than this time. The 95th percentile is used as an indication of the range of current waiting times without being distorted by extreme values or the prioritisation of urgent waits.
At 30 June 2023, the median waiting time for a first outpatient appointment was 52.4 weeks and the 95th percentile was 251.6 weeks (approximately 4 years and 43 weeks).
Figure 3: Median and 95th Percentile Waiting Times
30 June 2020 to 30 June 2023
This line chart shows that the median waiting time has increased from 45.1 weeks at 30 June 2020 to a peak of 65.7 weeks at 30 June 2021 then decreased to 52.4 weeks at 30 June 2023.
The 95th percentile waiting time has increased steadily from 165.9 weeks at 30 June 2020 to 251.6 weeks at 30 June 2023.
Waiting Times by Specialty
Exclusions From This Analysis
Paedaetrics, Genito-Urinary Medicine, Learning Disability and Old Age Psychiatry specialties are excluded from this analysis due to limited data availability.
There is a large variation in median and 95th percentile waiting
times across different specialties. Low medians relative to the 95th
percentile can be an indication of large numbers of patients recently
joining a list or a greater proportion of urgent patients within a
specialty.
Figure 4: Median and 95th Percentile Waiting Times by Specialty
30 June 2023
The bar chart above shows the median and 95th percentile waiting times for specialties where at least 5,000 patients were waiting for appointments at 30 June 2023. The longest median waiting time was 130.1 weeks in the Oral Surgery specialty.
General Medicine, Neurology, Rheumatology, Oral Surgery, Ophthalmology, Plastic Surgery, Dermatology, ENT and General Surgery specialties all had median waiting times over 1 year.
At least one in twenty (5%) patients waiting for General Medicine, Neurology, Rheumatology, Oral Surgery and Ophthalmology had been waiting over 5 years.
Performance against Targets
The draft waiting times target states that 50% of patients should wait no longer than 9 weeks for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment; with no patient waiting longer than 52 weeks.
This target was introduced in 2016/17.
Figure 5: Patients Waiting Under 9 Week Target
30 June 2016 to 30 June 2023
The line and stacked bar charts above illustrate the number and percentage of patients waiting less than 9 weeks 30 June 2016 to 30 June 2023.
Across this period the target of 50% of patients waiting less than 9 weeks was not achieved, with the highest proportion under 9 weeks being 35.2% (79,426 of 225,593 patients) at 30 June 2016.
As at 30 June 2023, 17.9% of patients were waiting less than 9 weeks, a decrease from 18.4% at 30 June 2022 and a decrease from 26.8% at 30 June 2018.
Figure 6: Patients Waiting Over 52 Week Target
30 June 2016 to 30 June 2023
The line and stacked bar charts above illustrate the number and perentage of patients waiting over 52 weeks from 30 June 2016 to 30 June 2023.
Across this period the target of no patients waiting longer than 52 weeks was not achieved, with the highest proportion over 52 weeks being 56.8% (197,257 of 347,518 patients) at 31 March 2021.
At 30 June 2023, 49% of patients were waiting longer than 52 weeks, a decrease from 51.5% at 30 June 2022 and an increase from 32.1% in 30 June 2018.
Performance by HSC Trust
Draft target: 50% of patients should wait no longer than 9 weeks and no patient should wait longer than 52 weeks for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment.
Data shown in this section indicates the Health and Social Care Trust responsible for a patient’s care. As Day Case Procedure Centres are a regional service, they have been reported separately from HSC Trusts.
Figure 7: Waiting Times by HSC Trust and Day Case Procedure Centres
30 June 2023
The proportionate stacked bar chart above breaks down the length of time patients have been waiting by the Health and Social Care Trust responsible for their service.
No Trust met the target to have 50% of patients waiting less than 9 weeks, nor the target to have no patients waiting longer than 52 weeks.
Outpatient Activity
Provisional Statistics
Outpatient attendance data are fully validated once per year. Statistics in this section are subject to revision in subsequent releases and do not hold National Statistics status.
Fully validated outpatient activity statistics are published annually at the following link:
Between April and June 2023, there were 116,863 attendances at
first outpatient appointments, of which 2.6% (3,048) were at independent
sector providers commissioned by HSC Trusts and the remaining 97.4%
(113,815) at HSC Trust hospitals.
Figure 8: Number of First Outpatient Attendances Commissioned by HSC Trusts
Quarter Ending June 2008 to Quarter Ending June 2023
The bar chart above indicates the number of patients who attended first outpatient appointments in each quarter between June 2008 and June 2023. The number of patients attending remained steady from 2008 to March 2020. A sharp decrease was observed in June 2020 and since then activity has risen steadily and has almost returned to levels seen before this.
ICATS Waiting List
Integrated Clinical Assessment and Treatment Services (ICATS) are outpatient services provided by multi-disciplinary teams of health service professionals. They provide assessment, treatment and advisory services in a variety of primary, community and secondary care settings. Patients who do not require urgent treatment are referred to ICATS teams, if the patient’s condition requires the attention of a consultant, arrangements are made for the patient to be referred for a hospital outpatient appointment.
As ICATS services are not consultant-led, patients waiting for an ICATS appointment are not included the statistics for consultant-led outpatient services presented in the sections above.
At 30 June 2023, there were 22,805 patients waiting for a first
ICATS outpatient appointment. The number of patients waiting has
increased by 1.5% (347) from 31 March 2023 and decreased by 5.3% (1,278)
from 30 June 2022.
Figure 9: Patients Waiting for a First ICATS Outpatient Appointment
30 June 2011 to 30 June 2023
This line chart shows that the number of patients waiting for a first ICATS outpatient appointment rose steadily from 6,134 on 30 June 2011 to 16,720 on 31 March 2021. A sharp increase to a peak of 25,093 on 30 September 2022 occurred before decreasing to 22,805 on 30 June 2023.
Data Sources, Quality and Guidance
Data sources
The sources for the data contained
in this release are the HSC Trust’s Patient Administration Systems, the
DoH Outpatient Waiting Times Dataset and the DoH CH3, QOAR, R-QOAR,
V-QOAR and IS1 returns.
First consultant-led
outpatient appointment
An outpatient appointment is to
enable a patient to see a consultant or a member of their team following
an outpatient referral. The majority of referrals will be from a GP
however they may also be received from a range of other sources.
These appointments provide an opportunity for consultation,
investigation and minor treatment. Appointments can be face-to-face or
virtual and patients are not admitted into hospital.
A first
attendance is the first of a series or the only attendance at an
outpatient service.
Measurement of waiting
times
Statistics in this report refer to the number of
patients waiting and the length of time they had been waiting as at the
reporting date. They do not indicate completed waiting times or expected
future waiting times.
Waiting time for a first outpatient
appointment begins on the date the HSC Trust receives a referral to a
consultant-led service.
Patients who cannot attend or miss
their appointment have their waiting time adjusted to commence on the
date they informed the HSC Trust that they could not attend or the date
of the missed appointment.
Patients suspended for medical or
social reasons as at the reporting date are not included in the
statistics. If re-instated, the period of suspension is excluded from
the waiting time.
Time bands relate to the number of completed
weeks a patient has been waiting. For example, a patient waiting exactly
6 weeks would be included in the 0-6 week time band and a patient
waiting 6 weeks and 1 day would be included in the 6-9 week time band.
Reporting patients against Health and Social Care
Trusts
A number of outpatient services may not be provided
at a patient’s local HSC Trust and instead are provided as centralised
services for Northern Ireland.
In some cases a consultant from
one HSC Trust may provide a “visiting” service at another HSC Trust, and
so the patient may not be reported at the HSC Trust at which they
attend. Patients are reported against the HSC Trust responsible for the
service to which they have been referred.
Day
Case Procedure Centres
From February 2019, Day Case
Procedure Centres (DPCs) are being introduced to deliver large volumes
of non-complex routine surgery.
Patients waiting for specific
non-urgent surgical treatments can be referred to a DPC for treatment
rather than attend the hospital site they may ordinarily have been
referred to.
Patients waiting for an outpatient appointment at
a Day Case Procedure Centre are included in these statistics.
As these services are managed on a regional basis, patients are not
allocated as waiting at a particular HSC Trust and where a Trust split
is used in these statistics, the patients are instead reported
separately against Day Case Procedure Centres.
Patients with multiple waits
Some patients will be
on more than one waiting list or be on the same waiting list for more
than one appointment due to having multiple conditions. Such patients
are counted more than once depending on how many times they are waiting.
Patients resident outside Northern Ireland and
private patients
Statistics on patients waiting for
inpatient and day case admission include patients living outside
Northern Ireland and privately funded patients waiting for treatment in
Health Service hospitals in Northern Ireland.
Outpatient activity
Provisional statistics on
outpatient activity are presented to provide contextual information in
relation to waiting lists. Hospital data are sourced from the HSC Trusts
and Independent Sector data are provided by the Strategic Planning and
Performance Group in the Department of Health.
These data are
not National Statistics and have not been validated or quality assured
by HSC Trusts prior to publication. Data quality is addressed on an
ongoing basis and figures are subject to revision in subsequent
publications as hospital records may not be fully up to date as at the
publication date.
Provisional statistics on outpatient
activity do not include:
• ICATS appointments
• Ward attenders
Further technical guidance
Technical guidance and definitions, as well as notes on how to use the
data contained within this statistical release are available at the
following link: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/articles/outpatient-waiting-times
Additional Information and Data
Data from this publication
Data detailed in
this publication are also available on the NISRA Data Portal and in CSV
format to aid secondary analysis.
The Data Portal allows users
to filter results, plot interactive charts and read data via API queries
and to download data in CSV, XLSX, JSON-stat and PX formats. It can be
accessed at the following link: https://data.nisra.gov.uk/product/HWTS
CSV
files are available to download at the following link: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/northern-ireland-waiting-time-statistics-outpatient-waiting-times-june-2023
Other waiting times publications
Statistics on waiting times for inpatients, diagnostic services, cancer
and emergency care are available at the following link: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/topics/doh-statistics-and-research/hospital-waiting-times-statistics
National Statistics
The United Kingdom Statistics
Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics, in
accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and
signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.
National Statistics status means that official statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value. The statistics underwent a full assessment against the Code of Practice in 2011 and designation was awarded in June 2013.Since the assessment by the Office for Statistics Regulation, we have continued to comply with the Code of Practice for Statistics.
It is the Department of Health’s responsibility to maintain compliance with the standards expected of National Statistics. If we become concerned about whether these statistics are still meeting the appropriate standards, we will discuss any concerns with the Authority promptly. National Statistics status can be removed at any point when the highest standards are not maintained, and reinstated when standards are restored.
In November 2021, the Office for Statistics Regulation conducted a compliance check on these statistics and confirmed that they should continue to be designated as National Statistics. Further details can be found at: https://osr.statisticsauthority.gov.uk/correspondence/mark-pont-to-eugene-mooney-Northern-ireland-ni-outpatient-waiting-time-statistics/
In May 2022, the Office for Statistics Regulation extended the National Statistics designation to include Day Case Procedure Centre waiting times statistics.
Further information on the Code of Practice for Statistics is
available at: https://code.statisticsauthority.gov.uk
Accessibility contact
Please contact Hospital
Information Branch for assistance with accessibility requirements or
alternative formats. Email: statistics@health-ni.gov.uk
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specified.