Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:
“The waiting list figures published today are a shocking indictment of how devolution has failed the people of Northern Ireland.
“All the targets which the Department has set itself have been missed, not by fine margins but missed spectacularly. Rather than no one waiting longer than 52 weeks for a first outpatient appointment well over half (56.6%) are. Rather than no one waiting longer than 52 weeks for inpatient and day case admission over 60% are. And one could go on.
“Why is that? Since devolution returned in 2007 we have reduced the number of hospital beds by 1,500. We have one of the lowest number of ICU beds per 100,000 of population in the Western world. The Executive has failed when it comes to this core issue impacting the day to day lives of countless people across Northern Ireland.
“Contrast these facts with Stormont’s ability to squander money. A budget was debated just this week which finds money to invest in an expanded translation hub for Irish and Ulster Scots when we know that the existing service has only been used a handful of times in years. When put in that context many people will question what devolution is delivering for them.”