PATRICK (70) TOLD TO WAIT FOUR YEARS FOR CONSULTANT
A 70-year-old man who presented to his doctor with severe sinus problems in early 2015 has been told he must wait until 2019 to be seen by a consultant at University Hospital Waterford.
Patrick Marron, of Scar, Duncormick, is using seveal over-the-counter remedies to help ease his discomfort and pain and has been left depressed by his condition.
His wife Mary, who has been fighting his case, said: ‘In 2015, after six months, he was referred to Univseristy Hospital Waterford and put on an 18 month waiting list. He has been in and out of Wexford General Hospital ever since and is on antibiotics and anti depressants.’
Patrick was informed in mid-July over the phone that there is a new four-year waiting list for patients who want to see a consultant at University Hospital Waterford, which has an ear, nose and throat department.
Mary said: ‘I wrote to Leo Varadkar when he was Minister for Health and now I’m going to have to write to Simon Harris. This is not good enough for the people of Wexford.’
Mary contacted Minister Paul Kehoe but had no success in arranging an appointment for Patrick and has been in touch with the Ombudsman who informed her that they cannot intervene in clinical decisions.
Patrick had to purchasee a salt dis- penser for his condition which cost €160 and uses sinus washers daily, whch he also pays for.
Mary said: ‘It’s like you don’t matter once you get to old age in this country. Nobody wants to see him. I think they just hope that you’ll die. Simon Harris said the Government is going to save so much on drugs and he will save a lot on drugs if he doesn’t let patients see consultants.’
Patrick retired from his job as a building and civil engineer a decade ago, moving to Duncormick where Mary is from.
Mary said her husband had prostate cancer and now has to contend with not being seen when he is ill once again.
‘It’s a total nightmare. I feel like I’m banging my head off a brick wall. How can they make a clinical decision when they haven’t seen him. Patrick was admitted to Wexford General Hospital in the spring and they sent a fax to Waterford as they have no ear, nose and throat department here. We are left in limbo and we’re left spending a fortune for over-thecounter medicines. Our doctor Brian Kennedy has been great, but we need to get an appointment.’
A spokesperson for the Ireland South & South West Hospital Group said University Hospital Waterford does not comment on individual cases.