Long wait for those on orthopaedic list in Cork

THE Minister for Health and the HSE “need to put a greater effort” into reducing orthopaedic waiting lists in Cork.

That was the view of Deputy Aindrias Moynihan (FF) who asid that despite a fall in the national figures, the numbers in Cork waiting for orthopaedic treatment has increased over the past year. Deputy Moynihan said, “According to the latest information from Minister Simon Harris, almost 20% of people on orthopaedic treatment lists in Cork are waiting between nine and 18 months to be seen. That is an unacceptable amount of time for someone who may have restricted mobility or who could be suffering severe pain as they wait for months on end for a hip or knee replacement.”

He said he welcomes the fact that the National Treatment Purchase Fund appears to be working on a countrywide basis, however, he said that “more needs to be done to address the situation in Cork. “

“At the end of 2018, there were 466 people waiting for an appointment. Based on the Minister’s reply to me, that would mean that more than 80 people are waiting between nine and 18 months to be seen, with a further ten people on the list for over a year and a half,” he said.