THE "rigorous approach" taken by Stormont to tackle Covid must be used to slash hospital waiting lists, Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill has said.
With some patients facing seven year delays to see a consultant while others are flying abroad for specialist treatment, there are mounting concerns that a two-tier health system is now operating in Northern Ireland with more people opting to pay for private care.
The Sinn Féin northern leader said that all patients should have access to free and accessible NHS services - after a new report highlighted that £1 billion is required over the next five years to address the north's waiting list crisis.
The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) study has also proposed a 10-step action plan to kick-start post-pandemic surgical services.
With thousands of operations - including cancer surgeries - postponed last year as part of Covid surge planning, Ms O'Neill said the pandemic had exposed endemic health services problems and called on the Executive to priortise the issue.
"Our healthcare workers have been stretched to the limit with a system that was already under huge pressure. Covid has exacerbated the situation and shone a bright light on the breaking points within the system," she said.
"The executive as a whole must take the same rigorous approach to waiting lists that we took to tackling Covid.
"When someone needs care and treatment, it should be readily and freely accessible.
"Success will only be achieved by working together; the health service, trade unions and all political parties must act decisively to transform the health service and support our health care workers to tackle waiting lists."
Health minister Robin Swann warned it could take 10 years to reduce lists and said the north's health service was in "grave danger" of breaching the NHS founding principle of free treatment for all.
However the Royal College report says that with "planning and resources", the "devastatingly long" backlog could be dealt with in less than a decade.
The college's plan includes increased investment, protected surgical beds, expansion of Covid-light sites, surgical training enhancements, and an expansion of the wider surgical workforce, alongside programmes to support staff wellbeing.
RCS director (NI) Mark Taylor, said the situation has "only worsened" over the past year.
"...our health service is in deep crisis, with half of patients waiting more than a year for their treatment. When you add in those patients waiting for their first consultant appointment, one in four people is on a waiting list.
"Northern Ireland's leaders are now faced with a choice. They can either continue to let things spiral out of control, or they can use the easing of Covid-19 pressures as a turning point, an opportunity to do things differently and get our health service, and in particular waiting times, back on track."
Mr Swann said: "Sustained additional funding is not the answer by itself - but we cannot start fixing waiting lists without it.
"I look forward to further constructive engagement with the Royal College as we continue to work together on this most pressing of issues.
"Our appalling waiting lists must now become one of the Executive's greatest priorities."
