Decrease in numbers on waiting lists for surgery

THE number of patients waiting for elective surgery has fallen, according to figures released by the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

According to the data, there were 717 fewer patients awaiting inpatient or day-case procedures at the end of last month, compared to the end of September – a drop of 1% .

The number of patients awaiting such treatment has dropped significantly over the past nine months, falling by 16% from 86,111 in July.

However, figures also showed a 2% increase in the number of people waiting for gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures, up from 17,528 at the end of September to 17,882 at the end of October. Despite the increase, month on month there has been a 15% drop across the past nine months in terms of those waiting for these procedures.

However, Fianna Fáil health spokesman Stephen Donnelly said the latest figures highlight that 3% of the population remain on waiting lists for more than a year.

‘A total of 151,432 people have been waiting for an outpatient appointment for more than 12 months – a truly astonishing figure,’ he said.

‘It is the equivalent of Limerick city and suburbs combined with Waterford city and suburbs. It would fill the Aviva Stadium three times over.’

He added:| ‘Last April, [Health] Minister [Simon] Harris said he would be bringing forward an action plan on outpatient lists “shortly”. Seven months later, we’re still waiting, and I suppose this too will also end up on the waiting list for over a year.’

Mr Donnelly added that the fall in inpatient/day case waiting-list figures demonstrated the success of the National Treatment Purchase Fund and said that it should be extended to outpatient lists also.

Welcoming the drop in waiting list numbers, Minister Harris said funding provided in Budget 2019 would go towards improving conditions further, adding: ‘Funding to the NTPF will increase from €55million in 2018 to €75million in 2019.’