FINE Gael claimed yesterday that it would reduce the maximum time spent on hospital waiting lists to six months, writes Alison O'Connor, Health Correspondent.
But the Minister for Health estimated yesterday the number of people waiting for admission had increased by 1,000 to almost 27,000 since the last figures were published for the quarter to the end of December.
Mr Noonan said the current waiting list figures would not be available until mid June because of disruption caused by the nurses' strike. However, the Minister was accused of deliberately withholding the figures by the Fianna Fail spokesman on health, Mr Brian Cowen.
"One has to conclude that the figures have increased rapidly since December and the Minister is sitting on them," he said.
Mr Noonan said that when the Fianna Fail Progressive Democrats coalition left office the waiting list stood at more than 40,000.