To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) how many people are currently awaiting joint replacement surgery; (b) the waiting time for such surgery; and (c) what steps will be taken to ensure that the current waiting lists for joint replacement surgery are reduced, in line with the targets set out in the statement by the previous Minister under direct rule.

At 31 March 2007, there were a total of 1,314 patients waiting for joint replacement surgery. Of these, 862 were waiting 0 – 2 months, and 452 were waiting 3 – 5 months. No-one was waiting longer than six months.

I am fully committed to ensuring that waiting times for surgery are further reduced in line with the target that, by the end of March 2008, no patient will wait more than 21 weeks for surgery. My Department will continue to monitor performance on a weekly basis to ensure that satisfactory progress is made towards this target.