THE SDLP’s Derry Assembly representative Sinéad McLaughlin has expressed concern following reports that patients are no longer being informed of their position on waiting lists for outpatient appointments.
Ms McLaughlin has written to the Chief Executive of the Western Trust to express her concerns.
Said the Foyle MLA: “The long waits that people across Derry for outpatient appointments experience can take a significant toll on their physical and mental wellbeing.
“These waiting lists are a symptom of our broken health and social care system and we need to do everything possible to bring them down.
“However, while they still do exist, the very least patients should be able to expect is that they are able to be updated their position on the waiting lists in a transparent and accessible way.
“It’s therefore particularly concerning to me that patients are no longer being advised where they are on the waiting list.
“This is causing huge anxiety for local people and we have a duty to provide patients with as much information as possible.
“If we want to have a truly accessible and transparent NHS, it’s crucial that patients are able to access information about their position on a waiting list, so they can make informed decisions about their treatment.
“How are people meant to plan their lives if they have no insight into when their procedure will take place? Of course, it’s not possible to give an exact date, but even an average median wait time would bring them more comfort.
“I also understand that patients are behind told to contact their GPs if they want to expedite their progress on the waiting list.
“At a time when our frontline GP services are experiencing huge pressure, this is surely unacceptable.
“I have today written to the Chief Executive of the Western Trust to express my concerns and advocate for people to be able to access their position on a waiting list.”
