Department acknowledges ‘marginal’ increase in waiting lists due to high activity

The number of patients on waiting lists has “increased marginally” in August, according to the Department of Health.

The Department was responding to the latest hospital waiting list and activity figures.

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 one 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 a statement from the Department.

“However, whilst having an impact on the volume of people on our waiting lists, growth in the number of referrals to our hospital system has a positive aspect in that it is indicative of people accessing the services that they need, an increased awareness of services as well as expansion of services.”

In its statement, the Department pointed out the figures also 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 13.2 months in July 2021 to just over seven months.