The number of people waiting a year and a half or more for an outpatient appointment at the region’s main hospital has risen by over 90% in a year.
The latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund show that as of the end of May, over 8,200 people were facing these long-term waits at UHL, at a time when support staff strikes are causing serious concern with regards to cancellations.
Clare FM’s James Mulhall has more:
The latest report from the National Treatment Purchase Fund shows that there were just shy of 34,700 people waiting for outpatient appointments at UHL at the end of May.
Of that number, some 8,231 have been on a waiting list for at least 18 months to be seen – a major increase from the 4,287 a year ago.
It’s also a marginal rise of 700 on the April figure at the Dooradoyle facility.
In terms of inpatient appointments, though, the figures are on a downward trend.
At the end of last month, 2,011 in total were waiting for these appointments at UHL, a monthly drop of 123 and almost 800 in a year.
At Ennis General, meanwhile, a total of 2,233 were waiting to be seen – which is a drop of just 28 in the space of a year.
The figures come as the uncertainty surrounding next week’s planned strikes for hospital support staff continues – which the HSE fears would lead to thousands of cancelled appointments.
James Mulhall, Clare FM, first for local news.
