Almost 80,000 people waiting for treatment in Cork hospitals

Nearly 80,000 people are waiting for treatment in Cork hospitals according to the latest National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) figures — an increase of 332 from January.

According to the latest figures, a total of 79,846 people — including 9,279 children — are awaiting treatment at either South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH), Cork University Hospital (CUH), Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), the Mercy University Hospital, Mallow General Hospital, or Bantry General Hospital.

Some 62,635 adults and 8,523 children are awaiting out-patient treatment, with 34,005 on waiting lists in South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital; 24,249 in Cork University Hospital; 5,316 in the Mercy; 4,867 in Mallow; 1,949 in Cork University Maternity Hospital and 772 in Bantry.

There are 38,769 waiting 0-6 months; 17,609 waiting six to 12 months; 6,621 waiting 12 to 18 months, and 8,159 waiting more than 18 months.

The total figure also includes 8,688 people on in-patient lists, a decrease from the previous month when 8,868 patients were awaiting a procedure.

Increasing

These figures had been increasing steadily since October.

In January, the figures were the highest they have been since the National Treatment Purchase Fund started measuring data in 2021.

Again, lists are highest in South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital — where 4,444 people are awaiting treatment — followed by 2,139 in Cork University Hospital, 736 in the Mercy, 601 in Cork University Maternity Hospital, 463 in Mallow, and 305 in Bantry.

A total of 5,382 have been waiting 0-6 months for in-patient treatment, 1,815 waiting six to 12 months, 738 waiting 12 to 18 months and 753 waiting over 18.

Overall, 14,780 people have been waiting over a year for treatment — these figures mark an increase from last month, with 7,359 people waiting 12-18 months for either inpatient or out-patient treatment and 8,912 waiting over 18 or a total of 16,271, compared to 16,250 waiting over a year in January.

Impacted

A Department of Health statement explained that hospitals are treating more patients than ever before, adding: “The delivery of elective care in the early months of the year is impacted by the winter surge in demand for unscheduled care and because of elevated levels of respiratory illness circulating.

“Therefore, the increase in waiting list volumes seen in the February figures is as expected and an anticipated multi-annual trend.”

The statement added that, for 2025, further investment has been secured “to continue the multi-annual approach to reduce and reform acute hospital waiting lists”.

“With the 2025 Waiting List Action Plan (Wlap), the Department of Health, the HSE, and the National Treatment Purchase Fund are taking the next steps in evolving the multi-annual approach towards achieving this Government’s vision of a public healthcare service, where everyone has timely and transparent access to high-quality scheduled care services where and when they require them,” it added.