Waiting time at Waterford University Hospital now four years, says Howlin
THE waiting time to be seen in the outpatients’ department of Waterford University Hospital is now four years, Labour Party leader Brendan Howling told the Dáil. One case, he said, relates to a child of 15 who is on antibiotics for acute tonsillitis.
‘We have been told that the hospital cannot give a date for an appointment but that waiting times are currently in excess of 48 months,’ he said. ‘I have seen waiting times of 51 months in the same department. What is the Government going to do to address that or is the commitment to the Programme for Government entirely fatuous?’
In reply, Minister of State Jim Daly said as a former Minister in the Department of Health, Deputy Howlin knew there is not a short answer to questions such as the one he raised. ‘Everybody accepts that the waiting lists are far too long,’ he said. ‘They are unacceptable and not good enough. The issue is what we do and how we do it, which will take a fundamental shift. A one-line answer from me today would not wipe 700,000 people from the outpatient waiting lists.’
Under the Sláintecare approach, he said the Government will bring healthcare down to the lowest level possible and ensure that people are treated in a more appropriate and timely manner. ‘It will take a year or two before the implementation of the strategy will have real teeth and we can make substantial progress,’ he added.