Menu
22/07/2019
SF Warn Of Growing Consultant Waiting Lists For Children
A Sinn Fein TD has warned of the urgent need to control the growing waiting times for children to see a consultant.
It comes as the Irish Hospital Consultants Association's #CareCantWait campaign continues to highlight concerns that impact on patient care and service delivery.
A shortage of hospital consultants is extending waiting lists, with the number of medical specialists in Ireland based on population standing at 43% below the EU average – the lowest in Europe.
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Louise O'Reilly TD said the campaign is helping shine a spotlight into the dark corners of the health service from a clinical perspective.
Currently, there are more than 47,000 children waiting to see a paediatric consultant, a figure which has increased by nearly 15,000 since 2016.
Teachta O'Reilly said: "While size of waiting lists may not always paint the full picture, duration on those lists does. In the same period, the number of children waiting to see a consultant for over 18 months grew by a staggering 11,044.
"The shortage of paediatric consultants across the State is the primary cause of the escalation of these waiting lists to dangerous and nearly unmanaged levels.
"If this is not urgently addressed, the waiting lists and the durations children spend on them will continue to grow out of control."
(JG/CM)
It comes as the Irish Hospital Consultants Association's #CareCantWait campaign continues to highlight concerns that impact on patient care and service delivery.
A shortage of hospital consultants is extending waiting lists, with the number of medical specialists in Ireland based on population standing at 43% below the EU average – the lowest in Europe.
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Louise O'Reilly TD said the campaign is helping shine a spotlight into the dark corners of the health service from a clinical perspective.
Currently, there are more than 47,000 children waiting to see a paediatric consultant, a figure which has increased by nearly 15,000 since 2016.
Teachta O'Reilly said: "While size of waiting lists may not always paint the full picture, duration on those lists does. In the same period, the number of children waiting to see a consultant for over 18 months grew by a staggering 11,044.
"The shortage of paediatric consultants across the State is the primary cause of the escalation of these waiting lists to dangerous and nearly unmanaged levels.
"If this is not urgently addressed, the waiting lists and the durations children spend on them will continue to grow out of control."
(JG/CM)
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.
14 July 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.
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.
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.
22 November 2018
Unfilled Vacancies At UL Hospital Group Adding To Overcrowding
Unfilled vacancies at UL Hospital Group is adding to overcrowding and growing waiting lists, Mayor of Limerick, Cllr James Collins, has said.
Unfilled Vacancies At UL Hospital Group Adding To Overcrowding
Unfilled vacancies at UL Hospital Group is adding to overcrowding and growing waiting lists, Mayor of Limerick, Cllr James Collins, has said.
14 September 2018
More Than 718,000 Patients Waiting On Medical Treatment
More than 718,000 patients are waiting on medical treatment across Ireland, it has been revealed. The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has released new hospital waiting list figures for August, which show waiting lists increased to a record 718,165 patients for the month.
More Than 718,000 Patients Waiting On Medical Treatment
More than 718,000 patients are waiting on medical treatment across Ireland, it has been revealed. The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has released new hospital waiting list figures for August, which show waiting lists increased to a record 718,165 patients for the month.
-
Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
