Ireland’s wait times in a ‘parallel universe’ when contrasted with comparable countries such as Scotland

• Election 2020 can call Government to account for why it is failing to make any significant inroads reducing the one million waiting for hospital care 
• In Scotland, with a comparable population, there are over 50% more consultants and 70% of all patients are treated within 12 weeks. 

IHCA President, Dr. Donal O’Hanlon: “In Ireland our existing HSE waiting time targets are in a ‘parallel universe’ compared to countries such as Scotland, which has a similar population. There, Scottish hospitals see most outpatients within 12 weeks. Here, the target for an outpatient to see a consultant is four times longer at 52 weeks. Yet our health service cannot even meet this target.

The difference is that Scotland has invested in hospital capacity to ensure that patients can access timely hospital care. In addition, Scotland with a population of 5.5 million has 56% more public hospital consultants than Ireland.  One in five or 500 permanent consultant posts in our public hospitals are unfilled, due to the government policy that is driving our highly trained specialists abroad.”

With the latest patient waiting times published today (13 December 2019) the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has highlighted that with one million people now waiting for hospital care and, after eight years of Fine Gael-led Government nothing has been achieved to reduce waiting lists.

The latest waiting list statistics show that there are 563,410 people waiting to see a hospital consultant (outpatients), an increase of 48,050 or 9.3% on the same time last year. In addition, there are a further 66,594 patients also waiting for hospital inpatient or day case treatment. Both figures are unacceptable.

The IHCA has pointed out that the HSE continues to miss its own targets for lengthy, maximum patient waiting times. However, when these targets are contrasted with comparable countries such as Scotland, the stark chasm between both health services is exposed. 

This includes:

• In Scotland, over 70% of all patients waiting to see a consultant (outpatients) are seen within 12 weeks, in Ireland the HSE target is 52 weeks but only 69% of patients are seen within this timeframe;
• In Scotland, 70% of all inpatients are treated within 12 weeks, in Ireland the same target, over five times longer, is 64 weeks (15 months) and the HSE is still not meeting this target;
• Equally on diagnostics, four in five patients (82%) in Scotland access a diagnostic test in 6 weeks or less. In Ireland the HSE does not even publish information on either the number of patients waiting for a diagnostic test or how long they wait. However, patients waiting several years for an MRI or CT scan is not unusual*.  

According to IHCA President, Dr. Donal O’Hanlon: “In Ireland our existing HSE waiting time targets are in a ‘parallel universe’ compared to countries such as Scotland, which has a similar population. 

“There, Scottish hospitals see most outpatients within 12 weeks. Here, the target for an outpatient to see a consultant is four times longer at 52 weeks. Yet our health service cannot even meet this lengthy target.

“The difference is that Scotland has invested in hospital capacity and medical specialists, to ensure that patients there can access timely hospital care. In addition, Scotland with a population of 5.5 million has 56% more public hospital consultants than Ireland. This is a key factor in maintaining timely access to care. 

“Yet despite this evidence of what works, currently one in five or 500 permanent consultant posts in our public hospitals are unfilled, due to the government policy that is driving our highly trained specialists abroad. 

“Worse still, after eight years in office, Fine Gael has done nothing to staff our hospitals with the medical specialists needed. This winter, as with each one before, patients are now enduring long wait times, cancelled surgeries and treatment on trolleys due to this Government inaction.

“Only Election 2020 can now call Government to account for why it is failing to make any significant inroads reducing the one million waiting for hospital care”.

ENDS. 

MEDIA CONTACTS
Lauren Murphy │ lauren@pr360.ie │ 083 801 5917
Barry Murphy │ barry@pr360.ie │ 087 266 9878

NOTES TO EDITORS 
* Based on Scottish waiting time data: https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Waiting-Times/Inpatient-Day-Cases-and-Outpatients/ 

https://www.isdscotland.org/Health-Topics/Workforce/Publications/