Hospital Consultants leading the digital charge to tackle lengthy dermatology waiting lists

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has today welcomed the publication of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report on the use of Teledermatology, saying it builds on the innovative work by Consultants across the country who are adopting new technologies to improve patient care and reduce waiting lists.

The HIQA Health Technology Assessment (HTA) confirms that Teledermatology, the use of digital imaging to support referrals, is a safe and effective clinical pathway. HIQA estimates that while requiring a modest investment of €2.7 million over 10 years, this approach could enable the management of an additional 270,000 patients.

IHCA President Prof Gabrielle Colleran said:
“We welcome HIQA’s endorsement of Teledermatology. Our members have long advocated for integrating digital technology to triage cases more effectively and to ensure patients are seen in the right place at the right time. This is one important aspect of essential innovation in Dermatology Services to improve access and ensure that patients with urgent needs can be identified and treated within the time frame needed. We acknowledge the ongoing support of the Department of Health and the HSE in providing the necessary frameworks for our members to deliver such solutions, in particular outgoing Secretary General Robert Watt, who has been a consistent driver of innovation, quality and efficiency within the Health Service. Programmes like the HSE SPARK Consultant Innovation Fund are vital in allowing frontline Consultants to pilot and scale these transformative technologies.”

The HIQA report arrives as dermatology waiting lists remain at unacceptable levels. The Authority notes that there were over 60,000 patients in Ireland on waiting lists for a Consultant Dermatologist appointment in June 2025. This has risen slightly since, with 60,710 now awaiting an outpatient appointment at the end of February 2026. Of these, 3,600 are children. The Dermatology outpatient waiting list currently represents almost 10% of the entire national outpatient waiting list.
 

The IHCA highlights that while innovation is a powerful tool, it must be supported by a credible plan to address chronic workforce shortages and capacity deficits:

• Recruitment Gap: While 114 Consultant Dermatologists are registered in Ireland, only 64 were employed in the public system at the end of 2024.
• Long Wait Times: Routine wait times for dermatology now extend to three years in some regions.
• Urgent Need: HIQA itself concludes that Teledermatology alone cannot bridge the gap, stating there remains an “urgent need to recruit more consultant dermatologists”.

The IHCA has repeatedly outlined the need for targeted interventions to fix dermatology services, including a dedicated Adolescent Acne Programme and streamlined recruitment timelines.

Jim Daly, CEO of the IHCA, said,
“Innovation is not just about technology; it is about redesigning how we deliver care. Last year alone, 114,000 admitted patients were treated on a trolley while awaiting a hospital bed. If we are to achieve the Sláintecare vision, we must see a parallel commitment to permanent Consultant posts and the rapid expansion of acute bed capacity, which is currently 45% below the EU average.”

ENDS
Contact: 
JP Hughes, Head of Communications & Strategy, Office of the CEO
Irish Hospital Consultants Association
Email: jphughes@ihca.ie, Tel: 085 77 66 393