Almost 85,000 people across Cork on waiting lists for hospital treatment

Almost 85,000 people were on waiting lists across hospitals in Cork last month, a more than 5% increase on the same month last year.

The latest figures, published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), show there were 84,336 people awaiting treatment at the end of March, of which 74,585 were outpatients and 9,751 were inpatients.

This marks the third consecutive month for increased waiting list numbers across Cork hospitals, further representing the worst month so far in 2026, and a 5.6% increase on the the same month last year.

The majority of people, 40,430, were waiting to be seen at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH), followed by 27,770 at Cork University Hospital (CUH), 7,117 at Mercy University Hospital, 4,402 at Mallow General Hospital, 3,392 at Cork University Maternity Hospital, and 1,225 at Bantry General Hospital.

Among those awaiting treatment, 9,420 were children, or approximately 11% of all cases.

Disciplines with the longest wait-time across Cork hospitals include dermatology, cardiology, neurosurgery and pain relief.

Concerning

These figures come as the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has warned that the levels of overcrowding in Irish hospitals has become “extremely concerning”, with almost 700 people reportedly being treated without a bed nationwide on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, 83 people have been treated without a bed at CUH, the Mercy and Bantry General Hospital.

General secretary at INMO, Phil Ní Sheaghdha, said no part of the country seems “immune from high levels of activity in our hospitals”.

“The level of overcrowding in Irish hospitals this week has been extremely concerning,” said Ms Ní Sheaghdha.

“Our members have indicated to us that there have been very high levels of activity across hospital sites, this is borne out in the fact that over 3,415 patients have been admitted to hospital without a bed over the last week.

“The high levels of activity have gone under the radar. This must not be allowed to continue as we head into the summer months.”