Waiting lists in Ireland’s public hospitals are out of control and will not be brought back to manageable levels unless resources are redirected to increase acute hospital and mental health frontline capacity, according to the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA). The Association announced details of its 2018 Pre Budget Submission this month.
Dr Tom Ryan, President of the IHCA, said, “There are now over 589,000 people on waiting lists in Ireland’s public hospitals and there is no sign that these numbers are going to decrease. Waiting lists are spiralling out of control because there is not enough capacity in the system. Public hospitals urgently need additional acute beds, intensive care beds, theatre operating time, consultants and other
frontline staff. This is essential to reduce the unacceptable waiting lists, the overcrowding of emergency departments and the increasing number of patients being treated on trolleys. Currently our health care system appears to be more focussed on balancing budgets and rationing care than treating patients.
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