A National Council member of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association and has warned that the growing shortage of essential acute hospital beds and Consultants across the North-West region is leading to longer waiting lists for treatment which is putting people’s welfare at risk.
Dr Aine Burke, Consultant Haematologist at Sligo University Hospital says that with over 131 000, waiting for care across the six hospitals making up the Saolta Hospital Group Patients are experiencing poorer outcomes when it comes to receiving medical treatment.
She claims that the government’s Waiting List Act Plan for 2023 has set a target to reduce waiting lists for outpatient appointments and inpatient and day case treatment and procedures nationally by 69,000 by the end of the year
However in reality more than 3,400 people have been added to the three main hospital waiting lists in the region since the start of the year.
The IHCA claim that this is because the shortage of beds is so severe that acutely ill patients are admitted, and essential surgical and other care has to be cancelled due to the significant capacity deficits.
Dr Burke says increase bed capacity and access to operating theatres across the region is needed to address the issue
