NEW figures released by the Health Service Executive show an astonishing 789 patients have been on outpatient waiting lists at Letterkenny General Hospital for more than three years.
The statistics were contained in a nationwide report which showed that just under 178,000 people are on waiting lists nationally for public hospital outpatient appointments.
Letterkenny General has been praised in several recent reports for its efficiency in dealing with patients when compared to other hospitals.
But the waiting list figures will come as a shock.
One issue, we understand, involved a high number of patients who actually fail to turn up for appointments.
We also understand that County Donegal’s main hospital is again over budget after the first quarter of the year and is working despite major constraints from the Department of Health.
Nearly 60,000 patients nationwide have been waiting over six months for an outpatient appointment and some patients have been waiting over four years to be seen in outpatients
The HSE says its outpatient waiting list data is not complete as several larger hospitals are not included in the statistics, which means that the actual total number waiting could be well over 200,000.
The Irish Hospital Consultants Association said its members have treated 10% more patients in the past two years and were working well beyond their hours to provide services.
It said that increased patient demand and resource cuts meant it was proving difficult to treat all patients as quickly as consultants would like.
The Irish Medical Organisations said the publication of the figures is an important first step, but that more specific details of waiting times are required.
Reacting to the report, the Irish Patients Association said that people who were waiting years to be seen could die as a result of the delays.
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