The number of people waiting long periods for appointments at midwest hospitals is beginning to decrease.
But despite this, the latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund, show the total number on waiting lists for any length of time is continuing to rise.
There were 33,922 people waiting for an inpatient or outpatient appointment at University Hospital Limerick in May, a 10% increase on the same month last year and a rise of less than 1% on April’s figures.
The figures compiled by the NTPF show that at Ennis General Hospital, numbers increased by 2% over the space of the year to 2,261, while there was just shy of a 4% on the previous month.
Despite this, the number of people waiting long periods for appointments is beginning to drop – there were five fewer people waiting a year and a half, or more, in Dooradoyle in May, and 23 fewer than the previous month.
At Ennis, there were no people waiting over 18 months in April or May this year, compared to 40 in May 2017, while those waiting between 12 and 15 months dropped from 36 to 8 over the 12 month period.
