A plan by the North's Executive to end waiting lists for heart by-pass surgery will provide new hope to those who need the operation, campaigners claimed yesterday.
Stormont sources said last night that ministers have been considering flying hundreds of people out of the North for cardiac surgery to deal with waiting lists.
The plan, which is expected to be announced at Stormont this week, could involve between 500 and 600 people going to other parts of the UK and Europe at a cost of between £5 million and £8 million.
The chief executive of the Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke Association, Mr Andrew Dougal, said: "If additional money is made available, it will make a huge difference to those waiting for surgery and also their families. Research by us has shown the great stress and anxiety endured by individuals waiting for surgery... They cannot plan holidays because they fear missing the phone call when they are away."
The North has the worst waiting list figures in Europe, with 58,000 people awaiting medical procedures at the end of last year. According to figures released by the North's Minister of Health, Ms Bairbre de Brun, in March, 8,300 people have waited more than 12 months for heart surgery.