BBC News Published image copyrightGetty/eag1e More than 323,000 people were still waiting for a first appointment with a consultant at the end of December 2020, according to the latest figures from the Department of Health. That is up 18,000 on December 2019, but 4,000 fewer than the previous quarter. Fifty-one percent of patients waited more than 52 weeks for a first consultant-led outpatient appointment The 2020/21 target for outpatient waiting times states that no patient should be waiting longer than 52 weeks. It also says at least 50% of patients should wait no longer than nine weeks for a first outpatient appointment 'Waiting in pain' Speaking to Stormont's health committee, Prof Charlotte McArdle said it would "take a significant amount of money" to rectify backlogs in the system.