SDLP Health spokesperson Mark H Durkan has welcomed the announcement by the Department of Health to adopt day case surgery hubs for specific treatments in line with the transformations outlined in the Bengoa report.
Last October, it was revealed that day case surgery hubs would do all planned surgeries for cataracts and varicose veins.
It is part of the transformation of health care in the report by Professor Bengoa.
The Department of Health plans to adopt the same approach across specialties including general surgery, urology, gynaecology, orthopaedics and paediatrics.
Groups including clinicians will take forward plans in areas including identifying preferred sites for the centres.
The Foyle MLA said: “In a time when waiting lists are getting longer and health services are struggling to cope with growing demand, these new centres will increase productivity and reduce waiting times for many patients.
“As these new centres move to specialise in specific areas through an elective care pathway in line with the Bengoa report, other locations will be free to provide the best treatment in other specific areas, should it be orthopaedics or dermatology for example.
“Whilst these new changes mean that patients may have to travel further to receive treatment, it will nonetheless significantly reduce waiting times and allow for specialists to move through waiting lists at a much faster pace.”
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