A TOTAL of 218 patients in urgent need of a colonoscopy have to wait more than one month, according to Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly TD.
He said in a statement that promises made in the wake of the death of Susie Long from bowel cancer in 2007 had not been kept.
“There are 207 people waiting between one and three months for urgent colonoscopies and a further 11 waiting over three months according to figures I have obtained from the Health Service Executive.
“This is all the more disconcerting when you realise that these are not routine tests, these are urgent cases who may be at considerable risk,” Dr Reilly said.
A HSE spokesman said: “We take the waiting lists for colonoscopies very seriously and have established a working team to deal with any delays.
“This team is working very closely with the hospitals concerned and our aim is to ensure that no patient will have to wait any longer than one month and, as ever, we will be treating the most serious cases as a priority.”
Dr Reilly said: “It’s quite amazing that, despite all the money spent on technology and personnel in the HSE, details of waiting times for routine colonoscopies still haven’t been compiled. If it was not for the heroic efforts of Susie Long before her untimely death people might not realise how serious this is.
“Some of the patients awaiting these urgent tests may be facing a cancer diagnosis, so time is absolutely of the essence . . .
“It is absolutely infuriating that patients continue to be left exposed to suffering and have their lives put at risk because of the incompetence of this Government in managing the health service.
“It is quite clear they are incapable of bringing about real change . . . ,” Dr Reilly said.