To ask the Minister of Health (i) for his assessment of the impact increased cross-trust collaboration would have on reducing long-term waiting lists for key procedures; and (ii) whether a cost-benefit analysis has been conducted.

Reducing waiting lists requires a multifaceted approach. Regional cross Trust collaboration has been fundamental in supporting efforts to address waiting lists here and deliver much-needed reform of services to improve outcomes for our patients.

The Elective Care Framework (ECF), May 2024, sets out the path for the development and reform of elective care services and details measures needed to address the unacceptable waiting lists here. A key component to successful delivery is the continued regional collaboration to ensure effective and efficient use of our resources and build on the good progress and improvements made to date to reduce waits here. Much good work is already underway through, for example; regional elective care centres, mega clinics and rapid diagnosis centres.

The investment needed to reduce waiting lists is clearly set out in the Framework and if fully funded and implemented, would address the waiting list backlog, close the demand capacity gap and deliver reform for the benefit of our patients.

Whilst the Programme for Government includes a commitment to invest up to £215m a year on the waiting list backlog, in line with the required investment levels detailed in the ECF, the draft 2025/26 NI budget does not contain any additional funding for waiting lists. Without this investment, there is no realistic possibility of reducing waiting times in Northern Ireland to acceptable levels.