THE NON-ATTENDANCE of about 35,000 outpatients for appointments in two Galway public hospitals last year has contributed to the largest waiting list in the country.
There are 40,517 outpatients waiting to be seen by a consultant after a GP referral at University College Hospital and Merlin Park.
This shocking figure in Galway university hospitals compares to 18,785 outpatients in Tallaght; 15,117 in Waterford Regional Hospital; 13,831 in Beaumont Hospital; 12,387 in Cork University Hospital; 11,228 in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore; 9,941 in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin; 8,592 in Letterkenny General Hospital; 7,323 in Our Lady of Lourdes, Drogheda; 6,953 in Sligo General Hospital and 6,459 in Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown.
Galway and Roscommon University Hospitals’ Group chief executive Bill Maher estimates the “unvalidated” outpatient figures in Galway hospitals could reduce by between 10 and 15 per cent when the number of patients on multiple lists for the same procedures are removed from the system.
It is estimated Galway university hospitals see 5,000 outpatients every week. Mr Maher said their overall outpatient waiting list would be much lower if patients turned up for all of their appointments.
He said the HSE needed to bring waiting times as close as possible to the expected national target of 12 months and then concentrate on reducing this further. The main priority was to identify the patients with the longest waiting times, treat them and get them off the list.
“The real issue is not the total amount of patients on the list but the length of time these patients are waiting. As part of the action plan, we are going to write out to patients and offer them a realistic appointment date and see if they still need the treatment,” he said.
It is the first time the HSE has published the figures, compiled as part of its outpatient data quality programme.