According to recent data, over two-thirds of patients on hospital waiting lists have been waiting beyond the intended timeframe. On the previous Friday, the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) revealed current waiting list figures until the close of May.
The data shows that as of last month, there were a total of 705,237 patients awaiting some sort of hospital procedure. This marks a reduction of 5,222 patients compared to the same time last year, but it is slightly higher than the previous month’s figure of 699,000.
The data further reveals that 471,406 individuals have been waiting longer than the predetermined targets set by Sláintecare. The Sláintecare report from 2017, aimed at drastically reforming the healthcare system, proposed a maximum waiting time of 12 weeks for inpatient/day case or GI Scope procedures, and a 10-week wait for a first outpatient appointment.
By the end of May, the 12-week target for inpatient appointments was exceeded by 52,646 people, marking a 1% escalation from last month and a similar increase compared to May 2023. The GI scope target was surpassed by just over 9,500 individuals, a 3% rise from the previous month, but a 9% decline from the same month the previous year.
For the 10-week new outpatient target, 409,258 people were waiting longer, a tiny 1% increase from last month. Nevertheless, this reflects a decrease of 6% compared to May 2023.
The Department of Health stated that there has been a 25% cut in the number of individuals waiting longer than these targets since the peak moments of the pandemic. Compared to last year, the average waiting period has been condensed by 1.7 months.
However, the waiting list is currently 14,900 above the target for the year to date as removals from the waiting list exceeded the target by 5,100 but the additions were 20,000 more than the target.
The department further noted that hospitals faced increased pressures in emergency and urgent care earlier this year, recording notable spikes in emergency department visits against the same period in 2023. Such increases in urgent and emergency care can affect the allocation of scheduled care, a factor which the department and the HSE are closely monitoring.