Waiting list for surgery rises 165pc at Connolly
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Waiting lists for surgery at Connolly Hospital have risen dramatically, according to data from the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
Tuesday February 17 2009
Waiting lists at one Dublin hospital have increased by a massive 165pc.
The huge jump in the number of people awaiting surgery at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown is compounded by large increases at two other northside facilities.
The numbers waiting for treatment at the Mater are up 45pc, while Temple Street's numbers are up by 56pc.
The figures are based on analysis of data from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) by Fine Gael deputy leader Richard Bruton.
Overall, the number waiting at northside hospitals for operation increased by 345 people or 9pc, but the spread among hospitals is extremely uneven.
On the southside, the numbers waiting have dropped dramatically, down 1,522 or 25pc.
Mr Bruton told the Herald: "There are now 4,358 waiting at northside hospitals, with 3,054 waiting for surgical procedures and 1,304 waiting for medical procedures."
He added: "The root of the problem on the northside is at the Mater, Connolly and Temple Street." In the Mater the number waiting rose by 551 patients. The worst areas of deterioration were ophthalmology (up 210), urology (up 36) and cardiology (up 55).
At Temple Street lists rose by 200, due mainly to an increase in numbers waiting for paediatric surgery where 117 extra people are now on a list.
The numbers of children requiring plastic surgery also grew by 46 compared to the previous NTPF analysis.
In Connolly, the number rose by 273, mainly due to demand for general surgery.
"On a positive note, Beaumont and Cappagh have seen their waiting lists drop considerably," Mr Bruton said, "and all Dublin hospitals have seen the number waiting longer than 12 months for procedures drop."
Tallaght experienced the biggest overall drop by almost halving its waiting list. There are now 1,367 fewer patients waiting for procedures.
St Vincent's also cut waiting lists by 724 patients or 46pc.
The Dublin North Central TD has called on the HSE to look at "the lack of convalescent care in the community, so as to free up valuable bed space."
- Kevin Doyle
