The Mater Hospital's only consultant neurologist has been forced to refuse new patients at his out-patient clinic because of a two-year backlog. A wide range of conditions, including epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and dementia, are treated at the clinic.
Dr Tim Lynch took up the Mater post two years ago. He identified a need for a minimum of two out-patient clinics per week, but only one was made available because of space restrictions.
"One half-day clinic is inadequate. Often the clinic continues until 8 or 9 in the evening in an attempt to accommodate the demand. This is unfair on the patients and the staff," Dr Lynch told The Irish Times.
The beds set aside for neurology patients in the Mater are constantly occupied by admissions from the accident and emergency unit, according to Dr Lynch, further frustrating his efforts.
A hospital spokesperson said that there were plans to have a second clinic in the near future. " Space is a major problem in the hospital and we are looking for alternative locations to hold some out-patient clinics."
The Republic has one of the worst ratios of consultant neurologists per head of population in Europe. With a population of a similar size, Denmark has 180 neurologists compared to the Republic's 11.
Over 2,000 Mater Hospital patients had their treatments cancelled last year according to the hospital's latest annual report. 1,835 in-patient treatments and 311 day cases were cancelled.