My Waiting Times NI FAQs & Guidance

Guidance

Integrated Elective Access Protocol (IEAP)

Please follow the link below to access the protocol:

Integrated Elective Access Protocol | Department of Health (health-ni.gov.uk)

Effective Use of Resources Policy (EUR)

The Effective Use of Resources (EUR) policy helps make sure that HSCNI treatments are offered in a fair and consistent way, and that public resources are used where they will have the most benefit for patients. The EUR details those treatments which are only available  when certain clinical criteria are met, and others that are not routinely funded. This helps reduce waiting times and ensures services are directed to those who need them most.

GPs and Consultants use this policy to check whether a patient meets the relevant criteria before making a referral. If a patient does not meet the criteria, but the GP or Consultant believes there are exceptional clinical reasons, they can submit an appeal. These cases are reviewed by the EUR Appeals Panel, which makes sure all decisions are fair, consistent and ethical.

Please follow the link below to access the policy:

Effective Use of Resources Policy 

• What are these waiting times for?

  These waiting times are average waiting times for a first appointment or treatment across the different clinical specialties in each Health and Social Care Trust area.

• How often are these waiting times updated?

  The webpages are updated by the first Thursday of each month.

• How will my referral be managed?

  For more information on how your referral will be managed, please visit the Trusts waiting time guidance pages below:

  Belfast – Waiting Times | Belfast Health & Social Care Trust website (hscni.net)

  Northern – Waiting Times – Northern Health and Social Care Trust (hscni.net)

  South Eastern – Waiting Times – South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)

  Southern – Waiting Times | Southern Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)

  Western – Waiting Times | Western Health & Social Care Trust (hscni.net)

• How do I find out how long I will need to wait for my appointment?

  You start by selecting the Health and Social Care Trust that is managing your care, then you select the clinical specialty appointment you are waiting for.

  Average waiting times will be displayed and are broken down in order of priority eg. red flag, urgent or routine.

• If the waiting times are shorter for another Health and Social Care Trust, can I move to the shorter list?

  Patients will receive their treatment in order of clinical priority. Moving to another hospital or Trust does not mean that you will receive treatment any quicker and, in some circumstances, could mean having to repeat certain tests, investigations or appointments which would mean waiting longer.

  We would encourage patients to remain under the care of their existing hospital. Should capacity become available elsewhere to be treated earlier, then the hospital will be in touch with patients directly to discuss the options.

• I have been waiting for longer than the times on your website. Why is this?

  My Waiting Times NI reports the average active waiting time information. This is the same methodology used by NHS England and NHS Wales to calculate the waiting times. We use the same methodology to ensure a consistent approach to reporting waiting time information to patients.

  Some patients will wait less time than the average and some patients will wait longer than the average waiting time indicated.

  Patients are managed based on clinical urgency and therefore waiting times can vary depending on each patient’s clinical condition.

  The Department of Health also produces more detailed quarterly waiting times statistics which can be found here – https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/topics/doh-statistics-and-research/hospital-waiting-times-statistics

• I’m on a waiting list but I don’t think I need the treatment anymore?

  If you no longer require treatment, please contact the Health and Social Care Trust responsible for your care.

  Contact details can be found:

  • Belfast HSC Trust
  • Northern HSC Trust
  • South Eastern HSC Trust
  • Southern HSC Trust
  • Western HSC Trust
• Why is the average waiting time for urgent patients longer than routine patients in certain specialties?

  There are particular specialties / sub specialties where the number of urgent referrals are relatively small. Any delay in booking these appointments e.g. due to a hospital or patient cancellation, could mean that the average urgent waiting time appears longer than the routine waiting time in that particular month.

• What do I do if my personal details have changed?

  If there are any changes to your name, address or telephone number, please phone the telephone number provided on your letter or contact the Trust switchboard and ask to be put through to the relevant booking office or service. For contact details, please follow the link below:

  HSC Trust Contacts – DOH/HSCNI Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG)

  Please also phone your GP Surgery to advise them of any changes to your personal details.

• Definitions

  Inpatient 
  Inpatient care is care provided in a hospital or other type of inpatient facility, where you are admitted, and spend at least one night – sometimes more -depending on your condition.

  Day Case 
  Patients who are admitted electively during the course of a day for treatment or care, which will not require an overnight stay in hospital.

  Colonoscopy 
  A colonoscopy is a test to check inside your bowels.

  Flex Sigmoidoscopy
  A flexible sigmoidoscopy is an exam used to evaluate the lower part of the large intestine (colon).

  Gastroscopy
  A gastroscopy is a test to check inside your throat, food pipe (oesophagus) and stomach, known as the upper part of your digestive system.

  Red Flag
  These appointments are allocated to patients with suspected Cancer diagnosis and are the highest priority.

  Urgent
  These appointments are allocated to patients with urgent care needs other than Cancer.

  Routine
  These appointments are allocated to patients who require a non-urgent appointment.