Cork hospitals waiting lists increase slightly to nearly 80k in July

Waiting lists in Cork hospitals have increased slightly compared to the previous month, with nearly 80,000 people awaiting treatment in one of six Cork hospitals as of the end of July, with children making up more than 11% of the waiting lists.

The majority of the people from the latest National Treatment Purchase Fund figures were waiting for outpatient treatment — 6,398 people were waiting more than 18 months, 7,527 for 12 to 18 months, 15,000 for six to 12 and 42,260 for less than six.

There were 8,773 people awaiting inpatient treatment; 5,787 for less than six months, 1,590 for six to 12 months, 737 for 12 to 18 and 658 for more than 18.

The total of 79,985 is up from 79,754 people at the end of June and 79,741 at the end of May. However, the total amount of children waiting has decreased from 9,244 in June and 9,251 in May to 8,962.

South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) had the most people awaiting treatment, with 29,780 adults and 3,398 children on waiting lists for outpatient and 4,476 adults and 259 children waiting for inpatient treatment.

Outpatient

It was followed by Cork University Hospital, where 20,082 adults and 4,474 children were waiting for outpatient and 1,543 adults and 329 children for inpatient treatment.

Mercy University Hospital had 6,551 people waiting for treatment in total, while there were 5,095 in Mallow General Hospital, 458 of which were children. There was also a total of 2,890 people awaiting treatment in Cork University Maternity Hospital and 1,045 in Bantry General Hospital.

The most common specialities people wait for were ophthalmology, orthopedics, dermatology, neuroplasty, plastic surgery, cardiology, pain relief and urology.

The figures also increased nationally, from 600,390 at the end of June to 614,470. The department of health said in a statement: “It is anticipated that the increases in waiting list volumes will stabilise and some positive signs are evident in the most recent figures.

Improvement

“Following increases since the end of 2024 in the length of time that patients on lists have been waiting, we are now seeing continued improvement month on month as well as in comparison with the same period last year.

“The Department will continue to engage with the HSE and NTPF on waiting list performance through the Waiting List Task Force.” They added: “Ireland’s acute hospitals are delivering higher levels of activity and treating many more patients than ever before. T

he latest hospital rolling 12-month activity report published by the HSE gives insight into acute activity levels, with millions of patients seen and treated annually in our hospital service.”