Currently 1000 cardiac operations are commissioned in the unit each year. However, the need for cardiac surgery in the province over the past 20 years has consistently been greater than that.
This means that in Northern Ireland the waiting time for elective cardiac surgery is up to 6 months and for more urgent surgery, on patients who have to remain in hospital because of the severity of their condition, can be up to 28 days.
Belfast Trust is unhappy with these waiting times and has requested further investment from the Commisioners to increase the number of operations and bring these waiting times down. In order to reduce your waiting time you may be asked if you would have your operation outside Northern Ireland .