Outpatient waiting lists at the region’s main hospital remain 20 percent higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The UL Hospitals Group says it intends to focus on people waiting longer than 18 months for an appointment as they attempt to reduce numbers.
55,977 people in this region are now waiting for an outpatient appointment with the UL Hospitals Group, compared to less than 47,000 back in 2019.
More than 1 in 3 of these patients have been waiting longer than a year and a half to see a consultant.
Senior management from the Group told a media briefing yesterday evening that its ‘advanced clinical prioritisation’ model will be an important focus for staff as scheduled care ramps up once more.
The operation, in line with national HSE guidance, aims to streamline access to clinical decision and diagnosis for patients most in need of it.
Chief Clinical Director Brian Lenehan told journalists that this won’t just focus on those who’ve been waiting the longest, pointing out many people who have been waiting less than 6 months are classified as ‘urgent’ cases.
The Group says waiting lists in specific areas such as orthopaedics, dermatology and pain relief have fallen, in part due to the hiring of additional consultants and more clinical specialists.
Management say virtual clinics will continue to be utilised going forward, with more than 100,000 of these having taken place since the onset of the pandemic.
