The number of public patients facing a gruelling wait to see a specialist has reached another record high of 612,817 – a jump of nearly 800 in the space of a month. There is general acceptance that more consultants and more beds to care for patients is the solution. “In budgetary terms, for a fraction of the level of spending commitments made we could fix the core problem of vacant permanent consultant posts. The immediate benefits this would have on patient care and waiting lists would also extend to other cost savings. “No amount of investment in services will reduce waiting lists unless we recruit and retain the necessary number of consultants to deliver timely care.

Source: Irish Independent November 14, 2020 02:26 UTC