Almost 85,000 people on hospital waiting lists in Cork

Almost 85,000 people were waiting for outpatient appointments or inpatient treatment at hospitals in Cork at the end of last month. 

According to newly released figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) 84,744 people were on waiting lists in Cork at the end of February. 

Nationally, there were 86,625 patients, including 9,853 children, on inpatient waiting lists, of whom 8,060 were waiting for treatment in Cork hospitals.

The highest number of people waiting was at the South Infirmary Victoria Hospital (SIVUH) where 4,031 adults and 291 children were on inpatient waiting lists.

This was followed by Cork University Hospital (CUH) which recorded 1,408 adults and 257 children on inpatient waiting lists.

Nationally, there were 578,595 people on outpatient waiting lists, of whom 76,684 were waiting for treatment at Cork hospitals.

The highest number of people on outpatient waiting lists in Cork was at CUH where 30,484 adults and 5,701 children were waiting to be seen, followed by SIVUH where 24,299 adults and 2,875 children were waiting to be seen, and the Mercy University Hospital (MUH) where 5,786 adults and 279 children were waiting for an appointment. 

Efforts to reduce lists 

Following the publication of the NTPF figures, the Department of Health said that there has been a 24% reduction in the number of people waiting longer than the Sláintecare targets since pandemic peaks.

The total waiting list exceeding the 10- and 12- week Sláintecare targets at the end of February 2024 was 478,898 which is a 1.3% (6,270) increase compared to the end of January.

The total number of patients waiting within the Sláintecare targets at the end of February 2024 was 210,637.

In a statement, the Department of Health said the upward trajectory for acute hospital waiting lists is “an anticipated multi-annual trend at this juncture” and said the HSE is attributing the increases in waiting list additions to both demographic (population growth, immigration, aging population etc) and non-demographic challenges (increased awareness of services, new service developments, chronic disease and pent-up demand post-pandemic).

“Despite the significant challenges from the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, emergency department pressures and other operational factors, including recruitment, our hospitals have delivered improvements which are making a real difference to patients,” the statement read.

“Many individual hospitals have delivered impressive reductions in both their waiting lists and waiting times. The HSE is currently working to replicate this positive performance across the entire hospital system.

“For example, over the past year, Cork University Hospital has reduced the number of patients waiting over 15 months for OPD appointments by 33% from 10,604 to 7,113."

The Department also said that further investment has been secured to tackle waiting lists and continue the multi-annual approach to reduce and reform acute hospital waiting lists.

Calls for opening of elective hospital to be accelerated 

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said, however, that while vast sums of money spent over the past four years have resulted in increased activity, it has been offset by higher-than-expected levels of patient demand and consultants are concerned that due to the pressures faced in the system, many of those who require treatment are having their scheduled appointments cancelled because they are described as ‘non-urgent’ cases.

IHCA President Professor Rob Landers called on the government to “fast-track” the opening of 1,500 additional rapid-build hospital beds across 15 acute public hospital sites this year and “avoid deferring their delivery any further”.

“The impact that the increased presentations to emergency departments and the resulting cancellation of surgical procedures is having on patients is clear evidence of the urgent need for this additional capacity,” he said.

“The opening of the promised six surgical hubs and the long-awaited four elective hospitals must also be accelerated in order to provide the extra capacity that is required to make significant inroads into achieving the Government’s waiting list reduction targets. Without this additional capacity coming on steam, there is little prospect of the waiting list coming under control anytime soon.”