Waiting Lists Rise By Almost 50% at Region’s Main Hospital

The number of people facing long waits for appointments at the region’s main hospital has increased by almost 50% in the past year.

The latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase fund show over 33,800 patients were waiting for in patient or out-patient appointments at University Hospital Limerick the end of last year, over 6,400 of those waiting 18 months or more.

At the same time, waiting lists at Ennis General Hospital were also up.

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The latest NTPF figures show that at the end of December, 33,815 people were on waiting lists at University Hospital Limerick, an almost 2% rise on the previous year.

But the numbers waiting 18 months or more for either in-patient or outpatient appointments soared to 6,435, a 49% jump on the same month the previous year.

The numbers waiting for appointments also increased at Ennis General Hospital.

At the end of last year, there were 2,341 people on waiting lists, 213 more than the previous December, representing a 10% increase.

This is despite a reduction in numbers nationally, which the Health Minister has welcomed, though Simon Harris has acknowledged that significant work still needs to be done to reduce the backlog.