'Stark reality of our health services': 14,000 Cork hospital appointments cancelled in nine-month period last year

MORE than 14,000 people had their appointments cancelled in Cork hospitals in the first nine months of 2023, according to new figures.

The figures, released to Sinn Féin, show that while some hospitals saw decreases, such as Bantry Hospital where cancellations dropped 90% from 641 in 2022 to 67 in 2023, this was offset by increases in other hospitals to a total of 14,231 cancellations.

Cork University Hospital (CUH) saw the number of cancellations decrease by 21%, but this still meant 7,564 were recorded in that period.

The Mercy Hospital recorded 3,298, a 23% increase from the previous year, while South Infirmary Victoria Hospital and the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) both saw cancellations increase by 2%.

The biggest rise was seen in Mallow Hospital, where cancellations rose by 171%, from 688 in 2022 to 1862 in 2023.

Sinn Féin Cork North Central TD, Thomas Gould, said: “The number of cancellations in Mallow General Hospital has almost tripled compared to the same time period in 2022. This paints a stark picture of the reality in our health services.”

“A 252% increase in gastrointestinal endoscopy cancellations will have seen 162 people left in discomfort and pain waiting for answers, these delays add to worry and allow conditions to worsen.”

“There are clearly real issues in addressing care”, in the hospital he said and he added, “I believe the Minister now needs to come clean about what is happening in Mallow hospital in particular.”

He acknowledged that “the hospitals are doing their best”, saying “they are working in difficult conditions, under huge pressure to try and manage services that are under resourced and understaffed”.

Mr Gould also addressed the 370 Elective Inpatient Admissions that were cancelled in the first nine months of last year, saying that these could have been seen and had their issue resolved, in the “long overdue elective hospital”, accusing the government of “moving at a snail’s pace in delivering this”.

However, Colm Burke, Fine Gael spokesperson for Health said that for elective procedures “you need to have obviously the medical team to do it, the availability of a theatre then also a bed for the patient after the procedure, and if any one of those are missing you cannot go through with the procedure.” He acknowledged that there were capacity problems.

“This is one of the reasons why we need that surgical hub, and to keep putting the pressure on in relation to the elective hospital.” In relation to Mallow, he explained that the building of the brand new extension may have led to some cancellations, saying “there may have been some changeover, but the new section has beds in it and is being used now”. 

The Cork North Central TD added that population increases are responsible for a lot of the pressure on hospitals, as older people account for a high percentage of people in hospitals.

He added that progress was being made with projects such as the transfer of Ophthalmology services from CUH to South Infirmary and the new primary care clinic in Ballincollig which opened recently, but “obviously the challenge is being able to deliver the infrastructure.”

'SHOCKING'

Cork South Central TD, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said that 7,564 cancellations in 2023 at CUH were “shocking”.

“5,837 of these were for return outpatient appointments, this is a staggering amount of people.

“These are individuals who require ongoing care and support and we are seeing here the negative and real life impact that hospital overcrowding is having on a patient’s healthcare.” 

He addressed the 250 cancellations in Cork’s Maternity Hospital, noting that it was a 2% increase on 2022, and that 169 of these were for new outpatient appointments. Mr Ó Laoghaire said, “We must do far better in terms of women’s healthcare and maternity care. Pregnancy is often a joyful and happy time with a lot of excitement, however it can also be a time of great stress and worry.

“The fantastic care that is received in our maternity hospitals is often a great help and comfort but for those 169 women who received notice of a cancelled appointment, it will no doubt have come as a source of worry and frustration and added stress to what can already be a difficult time.”

“These figures are extremely worrying, we are seeing cancellations increase and the longer this Government remains in office, the worse things get.”

The South/Southwest Hospital Group has been asked for comment.