Positive spin masks rise in people waiting for appointments

In line with the Government’s recent efforts to reduce waiting lists, the Department of Health has become more engaged in commenting upon data produced in relation to the area. A monthly press release is now sent out reacting to hospital waiting list figures published by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and hospital activity statistics published by the HSE.

These press releases typically follow the same format. They begin by outlining the improvements being achieved in reducing waiting lists. A little further on, however, the Department invariably admits waiting lists have actually grown due to high activity.

Take the most recent release based on figures for August.

After a top line that refers to how the NTPF figures “demonstrate the progress achieved through the multi-annual action plan approach implemented by the Government”, the Department acknowledges that the number of patients on waiting lists has “increased marginally”. It says the figures reflect “the increasing demand for care, given our growing and ageing population”.

According to the figures, approximately 168,000 people were taken off waiting lists in August. However, there were approximately 169,000 additions to waiting lists during the month.

At the end of August, there were 712,821 people on the total acute hospital waiting list, which represents an increase of <1 per cent in the last year.

“The volume of increased additions was identified as a risk as part of 2024 Waiting List Action Plan, and although the projections for this year considered the experience in previous years, it was acknowledged that uncertainty remained,” according to the Department’s statement.

But the press release says there is an ‘upside’ to the increase, “in that it is indicative of people accessing the services that they need, an increased awareness of services, as well as expansion of services.”

Most of the press release focuses on the positives. The Department points out the figures show “significant reductions” in the number of patients waiting longest.

There has been an approximate 18 per cent reduction in the total number of patients waiting over 12 months since this time last year, and a corresponding reduction of 28 per cent in the number waiting over 18 months.

“Improvements in terms of the length of time patients are waiting can also be seen in the progress achieved towards the Sláintecare targets,” the Department said.

“Since the pandemic peaks, there has been a 22 per cent reduction in the number of people waiting longer than the Sláintecare targets, equating to over 140,000 people.”

The statement also noted there have been improvements in the average length of time that patients are waiting, with the waiting time on the outpatient list reducing from an average of 13.2 months in July 2021 to just over seven months.

These achievements are not to be dismissed, and it is good to see waiting list data being published regularly and commented upon. Yet, despite the positive spin, the numbers of people waiting for care is growing, a trend that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later.