A report into how patients on healthcare waiting lists in Northern Ireland are kept informed has said that "repeated failures" across the system amount to systemic maladministration.
Margaret Kelly, the NI Public Services Ombudsman, said that this had a detrimental impact on the health and wellbeing of those on waiting lists.
The Department of Health said it would study the report but pointed out that the ultimate solution is a "sustained programme of investment and reform".
