evidence: The Northern Ireland Department of Health points out recent figures show a continued reduction in waiting lists, but said they are still "unacceptably long." [...] The health service has a target that no one should wait more than 12 hours in emergency departments to be treated, discharged or admitted. [...] The Royal College of Emergency Medicine said there is strong evidence more people died in association with emergency department delays in 2022 in Northern Ireland than died during the worst year of the Troubles.