The number of children waiting for an outpatient appointment at Ennis Hospital or University Hospital Limerick has risen by more than 10% in a year.
New figures published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund have revealed there are now in excess of 4,000 children awaiting an appointment at the Dooradoyle facility alone.
A total of 4,260 children were waiting for an outpatient appointment at either Ennis or UHL in January of this year.
UHL accounted for the vast majority of these with 4,191 on the waiting list there – up 13% on the same month in 2024.
Of those seeking an appointment at the facility, 60% have been waiting six months or less while 27% have been on the list for six to 12 months.
Paediatrics is the most in-demand specialty in Dooradoyle with 2,505 children on the waiting list for an appointment of this nature, followed by dermatology and ear, nose and throat.
At Ennis Hospital meanwhile, there are 69 children on the outpatient waiting list which is 30 more than this time last year.
All are awaiting a paediatrics appointment, with 53 waiting for up to six months while 13 have been on the list for between six and 12 months, and just three forced to wait for over a year.
Across both facilities, there were 4,260 children on the outpatient waiting list in January which indicates an almost 14% spike in the space of a year.
