MCGRATH RAISES ISSUE OF TWO YEAR WAITING TIMES FOR CORK ORTHOPAEDIC SERVICES IN DAIL

Cork South Central T.D. Michael McGrath has tonight raised the issue of outpatient orthopaedic waiting lists at Cork University Hospital in a Dáil adjournment debate and has called on the HSE to undertake several new initiatives to bring waiting times down.

According to figures released to Deputy McGrath, there are 3,500 people on the waiting list for outpatient orthopaedic appointments in CUH. This compares to just over 300 people on the waiting list for actual orthopaedic surgery.

‘These figures are clear evidence that the outpatient waiting list is the real problem. People can’t get on the waiting list for surgery until they have seen a consultant. At the moment, they will be waiting at least 2 years to see a consultant. The situation is completely unsustainable. Once patients get on the waiting list for surgery, the procedure will be carried out within months. The problem is they can’t even get on the list,’ according to Deputy McGrath.

‘There are over 1,500 people waiting for over a year for an outpatient appointment. Many of these people are waiting for hip replacement or knee replacement. They are living in pain on a daily basis and have had to change life plans in many cases while they are waiting to see a consultant. I am calling on the HSE to validate the outpatient waiting list in CUH and to extend the outpatient initiative with the National Treatment Purchase Fund so that more people can see a consultant in the short term,’ stated Deputy McGrath.

‘The HSE also needs to increase the number of permanent orthopaedic consultants from five so that waiting times can be reduced. I will be continuing to raise this issue with the Minister for Health and the HSE as a priority to ensure the progress is made on orthopaedic waiting times for patients in Cork,’ concluded Deputy McGrath.