Menu
14/07/2015
Health Minister Accused Of 'Manipulating' Hospital Waiting Times
Health Minister Leo Varadkar has been accused of trying to manipulate hospital waiting lists "to disguise the true scale of the crisis", Fianna Fáil's health spokesperson, Thomas Byrne, has said.
Senator Byrne made the comments following newspaper reports that tens of thousands of patients have been moved off waiting lists without having seen a doctor.
"Once again we see the Health Minister going to great lengths to cover up the scandal of overcrowding and exorbitant waiting lists that have become a common feature of our health service," Senator Byrne said.
"Minister Varadkar has already moved the goalposts on waiting times, extending his targets from 15 months to 18 months, and now it appears he's attempting to further massage the figures by moving patients off these waiting lists before they have even seen a doctor.
"The Minister's determination to spin his way out of this crisis appears to know no bounds. Not content with changing targets to suit his PR strategy, he has now invented a new system to alter the figures.
"Instead of reinstating the National Treatment Purchase Fund to cut the chronic waiting lists, Minister Varadkar announced funding for extra clinics as well as a plan to outsource some of the work to the private sector.
"The tenders for these additional clinics and private sector agreements have yet to be finalised but miraculously tens of thousands of patients have disappeared from the waiting lists. None of them having seen a doctor or had an appointment because these clinics are not even in operation.
"If the Minister spent more time examining tangible measures to tackle this crisis instead of devising creative initiatives to fiddle the figures, we may have seen some improvement in the situation.
"However, it appears as if Minister Varadkar is continuing down the route of his predecessor Minister Reilly and is allowing the figures to spiral out of control."
(MH/JP)
Senator Byrne made the comments following newspaper reports that tens of thousands of patients have been moved off waiting lists without having seen a doctor.
"Once again we see the Health Minister going to great lengths to cover up the scandal of overcrowding and exorbitant waiting lists that have become a common feature of our health service," Senator Byrne said.
"Minister Varadkar has already moved the goalposts on waiting times, extending his targets from 15 months to 18 months, and now it appears he's attempting to further massage the figures by moving patients off these waiting lists before they have even seen a doctor.
"The Minister's determination to spin his way out of this crisis appears to know no bounds. Not content with changing targets to suit his PR strategy, he has now invented a new system to alter the figures.
"Instead of reinstating the National Treatment Purchase Fund to cut the chronic waiting lists, Minister Varadkar announced funding for extra clinics as well as a plan to outsource some of the work to the private sector.
"The tenders for these additional clinics and private sector agreements have yet to be finalised but miraculously tens of thousands of patients have disappeared from the waiting lists. None of them having seen a doctor or had an appointment because these clinics are not even in operation.
"If the Minister spent more time examining tangible measures to tackle this crisis instead of devising creative initiatives to fiddle the figures, we may have seen some improvement in the situation.
"However, it appears as if Minister Varadkar is continuing down the route of his predecessor Minister Reilly and is allowing the figures to spiral out of control."
(MH/JP)
Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
27 July 2016
Funding Ring-Fenced To Tackle Hospital Waiting Lists
Funding of more than €1 million has been ring-fenced to help reduce waiting lists on the new National Treatment Purchase Fund's (NTPF) Endoscopy Waiting List 2016.
Funding Ring-Fenced To Tackle Hospital Waiting Lists
Funding of more than €1 million has been ring-fenced to help reduce waiting lists on the new National Treatment Purchase Fund's (NTPF) Endoscopy Waiting List 2016.
22 February 2018
Outpatient Waiting Lists 'Abysmal'
The government's record on outpatient waiting lists has been described as "abysmal", with new figures revealing a 323% increase in the number of people waiting more than 18 months for an outpatient appointment at University Hospital Galway – they're up from 1,184 in May 2016 to 5,008 at the end of January this year.
Outpatient Waiting Lists 'Abysmal'
The government's record on outpatient waiting lists has been described as "abysmal", with new figures revealing a 323% increase in the number of people waiting more than 18 months for an outpatient appointment at University Hospital Galway – they're up from 1,184 in May 2016 to 5,008 at the end of January this year.
30 July 2014
Hospital Waiting Lists 'Spiraling Out Of Control'
Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has been urged to tackle hospital waiting list before "the crisis spirals out of control", Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Health Billy Kelleher has said. Deputy Kelleher highlights that the latest figures reveal another increase in the number of patients waiting more than a year for an outpatient appointment.
Hospital Waiting Lists 'Spiraling Out Of Control'
Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has been urged to tackle hospital waiting list before "the crisis spirals out of control", Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Health Billy Kelleher has said. Deputy Kelleher highlights that the latest figures reveal another increase in the number of patients waiting more than a year for an outpatient appointment.
30 June 2014
Health Minister Accused Of 'Failing Patients'
The continued increase in outpatient waiting lists has been described as "further proof" that Minister for Health James Reilly is failing patients, Fianna Fáil has said.
Health Minister Accused Of 'Failing Patients'
The continued increase in outpatient waiting lists has been described as "further proof" that Minister for Health James Reilly is failing patients, Fianna Fáil has said.
16 October 2018
Govt Urged To Use Health Budget Increase To Tackle Waiting Lists
The government must use the health budget increases in the new Budget to do more to bring hospital waiting lists under control. Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo, Lisa Chambers, made the call as new figures released to her showed an increase in both inpatient and outpatient waiting lists at Mayo University Hospital.
Govt Urged To Use Health Budget Increase To Tackle Waiting Lists
The government must use the health budget increases in the new Budget to do more to bring hospital waiting lists under control. Fianna Fáil TD for Mayo, Lisa Chambers, made the call as new figures released to her showed an increase in both inpatient and outpatient waiting lists at Mayo University Hospital.
-
Ireland WeatherToday:Scattered sleet and snow showers will turn increasingly heavy and more frequent in the afternoon across the north. Largely dry with sunny spells in the south, but showers spreading here towards the end of the day. Maximum temperature 4 °C.Tonight:Frequent, often heavy showers of rain, sleet and snow will affect most parts this evening and overnight, but are likely to be most frequent across the northeast. Minimum temperature -1 °C.
