Poll of the Day: Is it wrong that private patients wait shorter times for cancer tests?

New report shows cancer test waiting times up to 25 times longer for public patients

Waiting times for MRI brain scans were estimated to be on average 20 times longer in the public system than in the private. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times
Waiting times for MRI brain scans were estimated to be on average 20 times longer in the public system than in the private. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times

The Irish Times Poll of the Day aims to get an overview of readers’ opinions on current events.

Today’s question: Is it wrong that private patients have shorter waiting times for cancer tests?

Results: Of the 1,323 voters, 63 per cent said "yes" - it is wrong that private patients have shorter waiting times, while 37 per cent voted "no" to the above question.

Background: Paul Cullen reports today that waiting times for potentially lifesaving tests for cancer are up to 25 times longer for public patients than for those paying privately.

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A new report has highlighted "striking differences" in access for public compared with private patients, with GPs reporting some public patients have to wait up to 480 days for an ultrasound.

- Public patients wait an average of 119-125 days for an MRI of the spine, musculoskeletal system or brain, while private patients are tested in under six days, the report commissioned by the Irish Cancer Society shows.

- Waiting times for public patients for abdominal or pelvic ultrasounds average between 72 and 81 days, whereas private patients are seen in five to six days.

- For CT scans of the brain, chest or abdomen, public patients wait an average of 47-55 days, compared with six days for patients paying privately. The waiting times for gastrointestinal tests such as colonoscopies averages 58-60 days in the public system, against 10 days privately.

- The only area where public patients enjoy relatively equal access to diagnostics is for chest X-rays, where they are seen within two days. Private patients are seen on a next-day basis.

The Irish Times Poll of the Day was a self-selecting survey of readers of irishtimes.com which ran from 9.30am-2.30pm