Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Primary access to outpatient care is a key component of the programme for Government. Recently released figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund are worrying and disappointing, especially for outpatient waiting lists in excess of 18 months. I will cite two examples. The ear, nose and throat, ENT, waiting list at University Hospital Waterford, UHW, in excess of 18 months stands at 3,437 and for orthopaedics it stands at 1,655. I accept that currently there are 479 vacant consultant posts in Ireland across all sectors in health, a situation which is compounding the issue. What are the specific plans within the Department of Health to tackle long waiters, especially in excess of 18 months?

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