FLIGHTS and travel costs for NHS patients being treated outside Northern Ireland cost the taxpayer more than £5m last year.
As the north’s spiralling waiting lists reach their worst levels in 15 years - with health bosses linking the crisis to money shortages and lack of capacity - new figures have revealed the multi-million pound travel and subsidies bill.
In addition, the 2014/15 spend on treatment for operations such as hip and knee replacments in NHS hospitals outside the north hit almost £15m.
It is understood the bill relates to more 1,000 patients.
The Health and Social Care Board provided the figures but was unable to give the additional travel bill for patients sent to private UK clinics as part of a programme to slash waiting lists.
Two years ago, the Irish News revealed that a private hospital Blackpool had been paid £20m to operate on almost 5,000 patients.
NHS patients requiring orthopaedic surgery such as hip, knee and shoulder replacements have been flown to the seaside resort for six years and put up in hotels, including The Hilton.
At the time, its former director admitted the contract was a "substantial" one and that those visiting Blackpool were bringing money to the local tourist economy.
"The patient usually brings a relative or chaperone with them and yes, while they are here they are contributing locally. It is a very nice place but I think the relative is more pre-occupied with visiting the patient in hospital," Liz Cousins of the Spire healthcare group said.
While NHS contracts with the private or “independent” sector in Northern Ireland were axed in July 2014, they were reinstated last November following a £40m government bailout to tackle the escalating waiting lists.
Latest Department of Health figures show there are more than 400,000 people – one in five of the population – on waiting lists, either for diagnotics, a first outpatient appointment or surgery.
Earlier this week The Irish News reported that of the 400,000 total, there had been a 800 per cent increase in the number of people waiting more than a year for their first consultant assessment. The target is 18 weeks.
Almost 7,000 were enduring delays in excess of a year for operations.
The latest figures on travel costs were given by health minister Simon Hamilton to DUP health committee member Alex Easton in response to a written Assembly question.
Mr Hamilton said he hopes the £40m cash injection would benefit 60,000 to 70,0000 patients and that improved waiting times is one of his "key priorities".
