UL Hospitals Group insists that the sharp rise in waiting times for hospital appoinments is a direct result of increased patient numbers over the past year.
It comes as new figures show significant spikes in the number of patients waiting for long periods of inpatient and outpatient appointments, especially at the region's main hospital.
Figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund show the number of people waiting at least a year for an appointment throughout the UL Hospitals Group in the past year soared by 500% to 815.
While, at University Hospital Limerick, there has been a 61% increase to 6,100.
In a lengthy statement to Clare FM, UL Hospitals Group says it saw 225,000 outpatients and over 44,000 day case patients in 2015 and the numbers currently waiting for appointments should be viewed in that context.
It goes on to say that all waiting list target times for outpatient, inpatient and day case procedures WERE achieved last year.
CEO Collette Cowan says she understands the concern over the numbers but has highlighted the growth in patients attending clinics or seeking surgery, coupled with increased attendance at the Emergency Department.
A Clare member of the HSE's Regional Health Forum West has expressed shock and serious concern over the figures.
Sixmilebridge Councillor PJ Ryan says the focus on reducing trolley numbers has led to a number of departments taking their eye off the ball.
Officials are urging people who no longer need appointments to notify the hospital well in advance as the "phenomenon of 'do-not-attends' denies other patients an appointment" and "inflates waiting lists".
FULL STATEMENT:
In 2015, UL Hospitals Group saw almost 225,000 outpatients and over 44,000 day case patients and the numbers currently waiting for inpatient or outpatient appointments should be viewed in this context. All waiting list target times for outpatient, inpatient and day case procedures were achieved last year.
UL Hospitals Group will continue to work hard to ensure that waiting list targets as set out in the National Service Plan for 2016 are also met. To achieve this, UL Hospitals is maximising all existing capacity across the group and additional internal capacity is also being provided in particular specialties to cater for those patients waiting 12 months or longer for an appointment or treatment. UL Hospitals is in addition undertaking a validation exercise in relation to all waiting lists, which will serve to reduce the numbers recorded as waiting.
While the number of patients waiting has increased at UL Hospitals and across the country, it should also be noted that the number of patients being seen in our clinics or treated as an inpatient or a day case is also increasing. As of May 31st 2016, the number of outpatient attendances across the UL Hospitals Group had increased by 5.1% YTD (year-to-date); the number of inpatient discharges by 7.8% and the number of day case discharges by 4.7%. This increase in elective activity has occurred in spite of significant increase in demand in unscheduled care over the same period. The number of presentations to the Emergency Department at UHL rose by 6.2% over the first five months of 2016.
All patients who are waiting – either for their initial outpatient appointment or for a surgical procedure – are prioritised according to medical need. Beyond this, and in accordance with the national targets, UL Hospitals Group will continue to focus on seeing and treating those who have been waiting the longest.
Among the reasons for the increase in the number of patients waiting for appointments is increasing demand and an increase in the number of urgent referrals in some specialties.
While outpatient numbers are high at the moment in both ENT and Dermatology, urgent referrals are being facilitated with appointments. There is no waiting time for day case procedures in Dermatology in Ennis or Nenagh. The Dermatology service at UL Hospitals Group has moved to a new self-contained unit in the Leben Building (UHL) and on foot of this all services, both inpatient and outpatient will be evaluated.
UL Hospitals has recruited Locum ENT consultant support which will help reduce waiting lists in that area for both outpatient and surgical patients.
Consultant, nursing support and clerical staff across our surgical, anaesthetic, medicine and diagnostic disciplines work together in a collaborative manner to ensure that all of our patients are treated in the most timely manner.
UL Hospitals would also urge members of the public who no longer need or who do not wish to take up appointments to notify the hospital well in advance. UL Hospitals thanks the majority of patients who do attend but the phenomenon of “do-not-attends” (DNAs) denies other patients an appointment or procedure and inflates waiting lists.
It should be noted that with the understandable exception of the Children’s Hospital Group, UL Hospitals has by far the lowest number of people on waiting lists out of all hospital groups.
UL Hospitals CEO Colette Cowan commented:
“We understand the concern about the growth in the number of patients waiting for an appointment or for a procedure. This is by no means unique to the UL Hospitals Group. While there will naturally be a focus on unmet demand within the system, it is important for people to know that our activity levels have increased this year, with thousands more patients being seen in our clinics or coming in for surgery. This was in spite of the significant increase in activity through our Emergency Department. Priority is given to patients with the greatest clinical need. Our teams across the group are working hard to minimise the length of time patients wait.”
