TD highlights need for more health facilities as more than 86,000 people recorded on hospital waiting lists in Cork

A CORK TD has highlighted the need for more health facilities such as the elective hospital to cope with the demand for health services as the population continues to increase.

It comes as more than 86,000 people were recorded on hospital waiting lists in Cork, in September, according to the latest National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) figures.

Fine Gael’s health spokesperson, Colm Burke said the big challenge in healthcare is the growth in population which he said has increased by 40% in the last 23 years.

“The population has gone up by 1.5m in 23 years, so you can appoint all the consultants you like but if they can’t get access to theatre or access to clinic rooms then they can’t deliver the service.”

Deputy Burke said the growth in population emphasises the need for the elective hospital in Cork to be fast-tracked.

“It just emphasises the importance of fast-tracking the building of elective hospitals, especially the one in Cork.

The number of consultants I’m coming across who can’t get theatre space. You need four components for an operation — you need the consultant, you need access to a theatre, you need theatre staff, and then you need a bed when the procedure is over.

His comments come as 86,130 patients, including children, were on waiting lists in Cork as of September 28, compared to 86,424 patients on waiting lists in Cork in the previous month.

There were 7,193 adults and 529 children on inpatient waiting lists in Cork and 69,383 adults and 9,025 children on outpatient waiting lists.

Mr Burke also highlighted improvements being implemented in ophthalmology services in Cork to try to get on top of backlog but said it needs to be done at a faster pace.

“The one good thing that we’ve done for instance in ophthalmology in the South Infirmary is building the two new ophthalmology theatres and we’ve a new ophthalmology outpatient unit but it will still take quite a bit of time to get on top of the backlog on lists,” he sad.

“We’re taking over all the ophthalmology in CUH and we’ve also put in place the facility in Ballincollig as well where minor ophthalmology issues can be dealt with too.”

Nationally, 33,525 adults and 3,793 children were on outpatient waiting lists for ophthalmology procedures in September.

There were a further 8,777 adults and 917 children on inpatient waiting lists for the service.