Thousands on scan waiting lists in Cork

AN increase in the need for CT, MRI or ultrasound scans has left thousands of people in Cork on long waiting lists, with people needing scans this year possibly not able to get them.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has learned that the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) paused the commissioning of CTs, MRIs and ultrasounds at the end of February due to unprecedented demand.

This is occurring against a backdrop of 260,000-plus people on diagnostic waiting lists nationally, with 37,039 of those in the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG) which consists of six Cork hospitals and one each in Kerry, Waterford, and Tipperary.

The figures as of the end of 2023 for the SSWHG show almost 5,000 of those have been waiting more than a year and a half.

The data shows 21,186 people waiting up to three months for a CT, MRI or ultrasound, 4,553 waiting 3-6 months, 3,009 waiting 6-9 months, and 2,034 waiting 9-12 months. Some 16.8% of those, 6,256 people, were waiting over a year as of the end of 2023, including 991 waiting 12-15 months, 758 waiting 15-18 months, and 4,507 waiting more than 18 months.

The NTPF informed the HSE on February 29 it only had funding to arrange 70,000 radiology scans nationally in 2024, and 55,000 voucher codes for scans had been issued to hospitals to that date — 79% of the total allocation.

The NTPF issues emergency diagnostic authorisation numbers (EDANs) to hospitals to carry out tests, with each redeemable for one scan. 

At the end of February, the NTPF told the HSE it was unable to issue new vouchers to hospitals despite requests for them, and that no new initiatives would be approved for 2024. At the time, it is understood some hospitals had already exceeded their EDAN allocations for some types of scans and were in the process of “retracting” some arranged scans for patients that were due to be carried out by private providers.

'SIGNIFICANT CONCERN'

In correspondence sent to the IHCA, the NTPF said it appreciated the “significant concern” that this move had caused consultants, but said the “unprecedented demand” for scans meant a “temporary pause has been placed on the routine issuing of EDANs while additional funding is being sought by the HSE”.

IHCA president Professor Rob Landers said the association is “extremely concerned that the NTPF has decided to pause and ration these diagnostic scans for the remainder of 2024”.

“The withdrawal of the scheme is also counterproductive given that the NTPF continues to fund other clinical waiting lists initiatives which serve to generate more radiology requests,” Prof Landers said. 

“The high number of people waiting for procedures such as CTs, MRIs, and ultrasounds is especially concerning given that these diagnostic tests are used to either confirm or rule out a disease or condition, including cancer.”

“Hospitals across the SSWHG utilise all available approved care options when it comes to managing patient waiting lists,” a hospital group spokesperson told . “However, it should be noted that despite an increasing number of patients requiring diagnostic scans, patients are always prioritised based on a clinical needs basis. Thus, ensuring patients with the greatest needs are treated first.”