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| Musgrave Park Hospital's waiting list rises by 75% | Musgrave Park Hospital's waiting list rises by 75% |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| There has been a 75% rise in the number of patients waiting for appointments at Belfast's Musgrave Park Hospital over the past two years, the BBC can reveal. | There has been a 75% rise in the number of patients waiting for appointments at Belfast's Musgrave Park Hospital over the past two years, the BBC can reveal. |
| Back surgery patients have been worst affected and can expect to wait 18 months for an appointment, according to internal documents leaked to the BBC. | Back surgery patients have been worst affected and can expect to wait 18 months for an appointment, according to internal documents leaked to the BBC. |
| They also show waiting times for knee and hip appointments are over one year. | They also show waiting times for knee and hip appointments are over one year. |
| A 43-year-old man who needs back surgery said he fears he will not be able to walk by the time he is treated. | A 43-year-old man who needs back surgery said he fears he will not be able to walk by the time he is treated. |
| 'Breached targets' | 'Breached targets' |
| George Anderson, a father of two from County Antrim, said he could not believe what he was hearing when he was told he would have to wait 67 weeks - almost 17 months - for an appointment. | George Anderson, a father of two from County Antrim, said he could not believe what he was hearing when he was told he would have to wait 67 weeks - almost 17 months - for an appointment. |
| "I don't think by then I will be able to walk. I am trying to do a day's work, trying to make a living, pay a mortgage, look after my kids and family and in 67 weeks I don't think I will be capable of doing all of that," Mr Anderson said. | "I don't think by then I will be able to walk. I am trying to do a day's work, trying to make a living, pay a mortgage, look after my kids and family and in 67 weeks I don't think I will be capable of doing all of that," Mr Anderson said. |
| "My biggest fear is that in 67 weeks I won't be able to pay my mortgage." | "My biggest fear is that in 67 weeks I won't be able to pay my mortgage." |
| Musgrave Park Hospital in south Belfast is Northern Ireland's regional centre for orthopaedics. | Musgrave Park Hospital in south Belfast is Northern Ireland's regional centre for orthopaedics. |
| The documents leaked to the BBC had been shared between management and consultants. | The documents leaked to the BBC had been shared between management and consultants. |
| They show there is a 74-week (18 month) waiting list to see a back surgery consultant. | They show there is a 74-week (18 month) waiting list to see a back surgery consultant. |
| For knee appointments, the wait is 59 weeks, while hip patients have to wait 56 weeks. | For knee appointments, the wait is 59 weeks, while hip patients have to wait 56 weeks. |
| The documents also show that up to this month, there had been 11,846 breaches of the 18-week waiting list target for a specialist appointment. | The documents also show that up to this month, there had been 11,846 breaches of the 18-week waiting list target for a specialist appointment. |
| Recruitment | Recruitment |
| A majority of these breaches involve patients with back problems. | A majority of these breaches involve patients with back problems. |
| The BBC understands that the Belfast Health Trust is currently trying to recruit back specialists and this is part of the problem. | The BBC understands that the Belfast Health Trust is currently trying to recruit back specialists and this is part of the problem. |
| The 75% overall rise in the number of patients on waiting lists includes both inpatient and outpatient appointments. | The 75% overall rise in the number of patients on waiting lists includes both inpatient and outpatient appointments. |
| In March 2013, a total of 19,644 people were waiting for inpatient and outpatient appointments at Musgrave, but by March this year, the figure had risen to 34, 358 patients. | In March 2013, a total of 19,644 people were waiting for inpatient and outpatient appointments at Musgrave, but by March this year, the figure had risen to 34, 358 patients. |
| 'Regret' | 'Regret' |
| Within the Belfast Trust, waiting lists for ophthalmology (eyes), neurology, gastroenterology, and ear, nose and throat (ENT) appointments have also grown considerably. | Within the Belfast Trust, waiting lists for ophthalmology (eyes), neurology, gastroenterology, and ear, nose and throat (ENT) appointments have also grown considerably. |
| Belfast Health Trust waiting lists | Belfast Health Trust waiting lists |
| Ophthalmology - 9 047 | Ophthalmology - 9 047 |
| Gastroenterology - 4,595 | Gastroenterology - 4,595 |
| Neurology - 4,556 | Neurology - 4,556 |
| ENT - 4,050 | ENT - 4,050 |
| One pensioner's painful wait | |
| In a statement, Belfast Health Trust said there had been an increase in demand for services, but additional funding had not been made available to increase its capacity to meet that demand. | In a statement, Belfast Health Trust said there had been an increase in demand for services, but additional funding had not been made available to increase its capacity to meet that demand. |
| "Our clinical staff continually review patients on the waiting list to prioritise those with the greatest clinical need. We sincerely regret the affect that this has on our patients. | "Our clinical staff continually review patients on the waiting list to prioritise those with the greatest clinical need. We sincerely regret the affect that this has on our patients. |
| "Belfast Trust continues to work with our colleagues in the health sector to increase efficiency and capacity to bring down our waiting times." | "Belfast Trust continues to work with our colleagues in the health sector to increase efficiency and capacity to bring down our waiting times." |