Children and elderly languishing on waiting lists

HOSPITAL lists show a significant number of the country’s oldest and youngest in need of medical care are languishing in wait.

More than 100,000 older people and 55,000 children are waiting for appointments and procedures.

Figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) showed 94,588 older people are waiting on outpatient lists, while 21,807 are on inpatient waiting lists for orthopaedic and ophthalmological (eye) services alone.

Some 54,789 children are waiting for an appointment – 17,639 for more than a year and 10,541 for over 18 months.

There were 2,069 children waiting more than a year to see a heart specialist, with over half waiting more than 18 months. The ophthalmology lists show 2,277 children are waiting to see an eye specialist for more than a year.

Pain

Stephen McMahon from the Irish Patients’ Association (IPA) said waiting lists are having an adverse effect on the lives of older people, many of whom are not fully diagnosed, with many more living in pain.

“Children’s quality of life would be greatly improved, they’d be better able to enjoy their childhood – if only for being on a waiting list,” he said.

Fianna Fáil spokesperson on older people Mary Butler said the lengthy waits are “adversely affecting older people” and “severely impacting on their quality of life”.

A HSE spokeswoman said that queries regarding waiting lists should be “directed to the NTPF”.

However, attempts by the Irish Independent to contact the National Treatment Purchase Fund last night were unsuccessful.