The Department of Health has announced a £500,000 extension of the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme for 2026/27, enabling voluntary and community organisations to continue providing free practical and emotional support to people on Northern Ireland’s hospital waiting lists. The scheme, first launched in 2025, will open for applications on 25 September 2026 with grants ranging from £5,000 to £30,000 available to eligible charities.
Health Minister Robbie Butler confirmed the continuation of the programme as official statistics show over 527,000 people were waiting for a first outpatient appointment at the end of December 2025, with median waits exceeding 63 weeks. The announcement comes amid sustained political pressure to address what remains widely regarded as a pressing issue facing the health service.
What the scheme offers
The Support While Waiting Grant Scheme funds community-based initiatives designed to help people maintain their health and wellbeing while awaiting hospital treatment. According to the Department of Health, support can include:
- Practical assistance with daily living
- Emotional and mental health support
- Opportunities to build confidence
- Help managing existing conditions
Projects funded in the previous round covered neurology, orthopaedics, gynaecology and mental health services. The Department expects projects funded under this round to support over 2,400 patients and families.
Twenty voluntary and community sector organisations received funding in 2025/26. Grants are awarded as a single upfront payment and must be spent by 31 March 2028.
Minister’s statement
Health Minister Robbie Butler said:
“We are making progress on waiting lists, but significant challenges remain. Behind every waiting list statistic is a person. While reducing waiting lists and increasing capacity remains a key priority for my Department, we must also support people while they wait for care. That’s why I am investing a further £500,000 to continue the Support While Waiting Grant Scheme.
“The voluntary and community sector is an essential partner in supporting the health and wellbeing of people across Northern Ireland. I am committed to supporting the invaluable work of these organisations and pay tribute to the many staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to meet the needs of the communities they serve.”
The scale of the challenge
The Minister’s acknowledgement of “significant challenges” reflects the stark reality of Northern Ireland’s waiting list crisis. According to latest figures from NISRA, published in March 2026:
- 527,062 patients were waiting for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment at 31 December 2025
- 87,156 patients were waiting for inpatient or day case admission
- 220,999 patients were waiting for a diagnostic test
- The median outpatient waiting time was 63.7 weeks—more than 14 months
While these figures represent slight improvements from September 2025, when over 542,000 people were on outpatient waiting lists, they remain far above targets. The draft target states that 50% of patients should wait no longer than nine weeks for a first outpatient appointment, with no patient waiting longer than 52 weeks. Currently, 85% of outpatients have waited more than nine weeks.
The Northern Ireland Audit Office has previously projected that without intervention, the inpatient waiting list could increase by over 200% to approximately 306,000 by March 2026.
Questions the announcement leaves unanswered
The press release frames the £500,000 investment as continued support for a successful programme, but several important details are not addressed:
- Funding level: The Department has not confirmed whether this £500,000 represents an increase, decrease, or continuation at the same level as 2025/26. The previous year’s funding pot was also £500,000, suggesting this is flat funding in cash terms.
- Previous performance: While the Department states that 2,400 patients and families are “expected” to be supported, it does not confirm whether the equivalent target was met in 2025/26. The use of future projections rather than verified outcomes makes it difficult to assess the scheme’s actual reach.
- Evaluation evidence: No information is provided about how the Department assessed the effectiveness of the first year of the scheme, or what lessons were incorporated into this year’s design.
- Scale relative to need: With over 835,000 people across all waiting list categories, the scheme’s capacity to support 2,400 patients represents approximately 0.3% of those waiting—raising practical questions about how access to the scheme is prioritised among those waiting.
Broader context
The Support While Waiting Grant Scheme forms part of a wider package of measures intended to address the waiting list crisis. The Department has also implemented a Waiting List Reimbursement Scheme, launched in June 2025, which allows eligible patients who have waited more than 52 weeks to seek private treatment in the Republic of Ireland or EU and claim reimbursement.
Additionally, the Elective Care Framework and the HSC Reset Plan’s Neighbourhood Model of Care are intended to reform how services are delivered. The Lagan Valley Regional Day Procedure Centre recently became the first unit in Ireland to achieve Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) accreditation, having delivered almost 26,000 procedures since 2020.
However, progress remains uneven. The Department’s permanent secretary told Stormont’s health committee in August 2026 that the health service had “no budget” and started the year with a deficit. The Executive’s Programme for Government had earmarked up to £215 million to reduce waiting lists, but over £73 million of this was diverted to address the Department’s financial shortfall.
How to apply
Voluntary and community sector organisations can apply for grants between £5,000 and £30,000. Applications open on 25 September 2026 and close at 12 noon on 6 November 2026.
Full details, application forms and guidance are available on the Department of Health website (note: the 2026/27 page may be updated). Completed applications can be emailed to WaitingWell@health-ni.gov.uk or posted to: Support While Waiting Grant Scheme, Floor D1, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, BT4 3SQ.
Questions for consideration
- Given that £500,000 represents flat funding in cash terms, how will the Department ensure the scheme maintains its reach amid inflationary pressures on community organisations?
- What evaluation mechanisms are in place to determine whether the support provided actually improves patient outcomes or reduces pressure on statutory services?
- How does the Department decide which patients and conditions to prioritise when scheme capacity covers only a fraction of those waiting?
- Should community-based waiting list support be funded as a permanent feature of the health service, rather than through time-limited annual grants?