£1bn needed to tackle surgical waiting lists, report says The plan’s 10 recommendations include a call for 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 Jonathan McCambridge, PA 25 May, 2021 10:56 Investment of £1 billion over five years is required to boost surgical services and tackle “devastatingly long” waiting lists in Northern Ireland, according to a new report. The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) has proposed a 10-step action plan to kick-start post-pandemic surgical services. The north has the worst waiting times in the UK and Health Minister Robin Swann has estimated they could take 10 years to tackle.