John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)

On assuming office, the Government indicated that tackling hospital waiting lists would be one of its top priorities in the area of health service provision. The Minister has spoken on several occasions about the pain and trauma associated with seriously ill people waiting months and years for treatment. The statistics for Waterford are horrifying, with 18,925 people on outpatient waiting lists for more than 12 months, one of the highest levels in the country. The main issue is not the total number of patients on the waiting list but the length of time they are waiting for treatment. For example, the latest figures show that 5,847 patients are waiting more than a year for orthopaedic outpatient appointments in Waterford, including 570 who are waiting more than four years. Surely the Minister will accept that these data indicate an index of pain that is unacceptable in the 21st century.

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