Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I wish to return to the point made about the commitment in the programme for Government to reduce waiting times for hospital outpatient appointments. I note what the Taoiseach said about slipping and going in the wrong direction. Yesterday, I was contacted by a constituent living in the town of Wexford who had been referred to a neurologist in St. Vincent's University Hospital. He got a letter from the hospital on 14 February - he was very happy even to be given an appointment - stating an appointment had been arranged for him at the waiting list triage clinic in the neurology department on the ground floor of St. Vincent's Hospital at 9 a.m. on 1 January 2024. It almost takes the proverbial when the next line asks him to present this letter to the receptionist on arrival and states that if he is unable to make the appointment, it is important he phones to cancel it on the number provided.

The letter then states the hospital may be able to give the appointment to another patient. That is six years from now. What is happening with outpatient appointments? Is this in any way acceptable?

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