Numbers waiting for hospital appointments hit new record

Almost 630,000 people were waiting for a hospital outpatient appointment at the end of last month, the highest figure yet recorded.

The 629,447 people on the outpatient waiting list represented an increase from 627,856 on the previous month and 625,513 at the start of this year.

Almost 195,000 of these patients have been waiting to see a doctor for more than a year.

Inpatient and gastrointestinal endoscopy waiting lists fell slightly last month, according to the latest data published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).

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There were 79,280 patients waiting for an inpatient or daycase procedure in August, compared to 79,588 the month before. About 15,000 of these patients have been waiting for over a year to be treated.

The waiting list for GI endoscopies fell to 26,711, from 27,100 in July, the NTPF said.

Last February, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly promised a €350 million investment this year would reduce waiting lists to their lowest level in five years. Mr Donnelly said the aim was to have “almost all” people on the inpatient waiting list treated by the end of the year.

There is no prospect of this aim being achieved, despite the massive investment that has ensued. Instead, the end-of-year figure may well be higher than the 77,818 recorded last January.

The failure to reduce waiting lists despite spending of €200 million on initiatives in the HSE and €150 million by the NTPF raises questions about current policies and the ability of the Department of Health and the HSE to effect change.

Both will argue that the Covid-19 pandemic continued to adversely affect the health services earlier this year, forcing the cancellation of elective procedures and driving staff absence rates up. Attendances at hospital EDs this year have approached record levels, the HSE has pointed out, and there is a high level of pent-up demand after the pandemic. Difficulties in recruiting sufficient new staff have also been blamed for gaps in service provision.

At least half of the €150 million going to the NTPF was expected to be spent in the private sector.