Portlaoise hospital sees 25% rise in children on waiting lists

Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise has seen the number of children on waiting lists for outpatient appointments rise by 25% in the last year. 

That's according to new figures from the  National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) which show that at the end of June there were 1,365 children waiting on outpatient procedures at the hospital, up from 1,092 in June 2023. 

Overall waiting lists at the hospital increased by 5% year-on-year from 6,043  to 6,345 waiting on procedures including inpatient, outpatient and GI endoscopies. 

The number of people on outpatient waiting lists at the Laois facility increased to 331 at the end of June, up from 219 twelve months earlier. There were 140 people waiting for gynaecology appointments, 110 for general surgery and 61 for urology. 

Meanwhile there were 4,043 adults on waiting lists for outpatient procedures which is down from 4,238 in June 2023. 

The highest numbers were waiting for gynaecology related surgeries (1,404) followed by general surgery (941). 

Nationally the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) said hospital waiting lists are now at the highest level ever. There is a record 911,500 people on some form of public hospital waiting list across the country. 

The IHCA is urging the Government to take the necessary actions to follow through on their promises to significantly increase public hospital capacity in order to address waiting lists.

Commenting on the record NTPF figures, IHCA Vice President Prof Anne Doherty said: “The 2024 Waiting List Action Plan has reached its halfway point but is nowhere near achieving the reduction targets set for the end of the year. The truth is, commitment on reducing waiting lists needs to be measured by actions, not promises. The Government needs to urgently increase public hospital capacity to treat the increasing number of patients on waiting lists. CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO

 IHCA Vice President Prof Anne Doherty

“The NTPF figures released confirm our fears that without addressing the very obvious shortages of hospital beds, Consultants, theatres, diagnostic and other facilities the Government will not address the core problems facing our public hospitals.

“It is important to remember that behind every statistic is a person and a family seeking healthcare, often while experiencing pain, suffering and the psychological distress at not knowing when they will be able to receive treatment.

“This is why the IHCA is urging the Government to commit the estimated €6 billion in capital funding to build and open all of the essential additional hospital beds, surgical hubs and elective hospitals already announced by the Minister for Health in order to cut waiting lists.

“Until the various pledges on hospital capacity become reality, patients will continue to suffer from delayed care on trolleys in our overcrowded Emergency Departments and increasing waiting times for outpatient appointments and hospital treatment that will impact on their outcomes.”