To ask the Minister of Health to detail any measures his Department is considering to reduce waiting times for (i) knee replacement surgery; and (ii) hip replacement surgery.

The current waiting times for primary joint replacement are unacceptable. Since 2018/19 there has been a significant growth in demand for both trauma and orthopaedic services. Given this increased growth in urgent demand, there has been a need to prioritise both clinic and theatre capacity. This has meant that patients who have been prioritised as routine wait longer for their assessment and treatment.

The 2024 Elective Care Framework and the more recent May 2025 Implementation and Funding Plan, sets out clear proposals for how we will systematically tackle the backlog of patients waiting longer than Ministerial standards. It also details how we will invest in and transform services to allow us to meet the population’s demands in the future.

This plan includes targeted funding to address some of the longest waiting treatments across a number of procedures including primary hip and knee replacement. In addition, I have also provided funding for a new Waiting List Reduction Reimbursement Scheme which will enable eligible patients the opportunity to reclaim costs for treatments received outside Northern Ireland.