McGrath Welcomes return of waiting list re-imbursement scheme
South Down SDLP MLA Colin McGrath has welcomed confirmation from Health Minister Mike Nesbitt that the long-awaited Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme will launch on 2 June 2025.
The scheme, which will allow patients who have been waiting two years or more for hospital treatment to reclaim costs for procedures undertaken in the Republic of Ireland, is backed by a £10 million investment and forms part of a broader package to tackle the backlog in Northern Ireland’s health service.
Commenting on the initiative by the Health Minister, Colin McGrath said: “This announcement will come as welcome news to many patients who have been left in limbo on waiting lists for far too long.
“The opportunity to access treatment and have costs reimbursed provides a much-needed lifeline for those in pain and waiting for care.
“I commend the Minister for bringing this scheme forward. It represents a practical intervention that could make a real difference for individuals and families across Northern Ireland.”
However, the South Down MLA warned against complacency, stressing the need for long-term solutions and added: “While this is a positive development, it is not a substitute for properly resourcing our health service here at home.
“We cannot allow a two-tier system to develop where those who can travel or navigate paperwork are prioritised.
“The reality is that waiting lists in Northern Ireland remain among the worst in these islands. We need further and sustained investment, not just in schemes like this, but in our front-line staff, our hospital infrastructure, and the wider health and social care system.
“People want and deserve timely care close to home. That must remain our ultimate goal.”
Mr McGrath pledged to continue pressing the Department for ambitious, long-term strategies to reduce waiting times and improve outcomes for patients across the North.
