Just 13% of Cork patients on neurosurgery wait-list will be seen by end of year

The Health Service Executive (HSE) has said that 700 patients on the waiting list for a first-time neurosurgery appointment in Cork will receive an appointment by the end of the year.

The comment comes in response to a query submitted by The Echo, requesting an outline as to why more than 5,200 people are on the waiting list for a neurosurgery appointment at Cork University Hospital (CUH).

According to waiting list figures, published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund:

• 1,104 people have been waiting for a first-time neurosurgery appointment at CUH for up to three months;
• 963 have been waiting for between three and six months;
• 817 have been waiting for between six and nine months;
• 680 have been waiting for between nine and 12 months;
• 547 have been waiting for between 12 and 15 months;
• 519 have been waiting for between 15 and 18 months;
• 578 have been waiting for more than 18 months.

This brings the total number of people waiting for a first-time neurosurgery appointment at CUH to 5,208.

A spokesperson for the HSE’s South West branch said that representatives for the agency, as well as representatives for CUH, “acknowledge and regret the current wait for some neurosurgery services at CUH”.

“Intensive work is under way to address the current waiting list.

“For example, we expect that the service will issue as many as 700 appointments for new patients before the end of the year.

“The sustained work by the neurosurgery team, supported by CUH and HSE South West, means that more than half of all patients on the waiting list are now waiting less than six months for an appointment.

“It is very important to point out that not all patients referred to the neurosurgery service will require surgery, some will be referred to other specialties like the pain service or orthopaedics, while others will be discharged."

“When a referral is made to the service, it is reviewed, triaged, and categorised by consultant neurosurgeons, so that patients are seen in order of clinical priority.”