More patients with private health insurance opting for treatment in North, says hospital group 

Aisling Sweeney, 26, from Ballisodare, Co Sligo, underwent specialist treatment for endometriosis at Kingsbridge hospital in Belfast using her Irish private health insurance.

The number of people using their health insurance at private hospitals in Northern Ireland to skip growing waiting lists in the Republic has shot up, new figures show.

One hospital group said it has recorded a 171% increase year-on-year in the use of Irish health insurance.