The number of outpatients awaiting hospital consultations reached a new high last month of 502,482. We need to see real delivery fast.”Steady riseOutpatient waiting numbers breached the half million mark last December, after climbing steadily from about 400,000 in March 2016. In Dublin’s three main children’s hospitals, 490 patients have been awaiting procedures for longer than 18 months. Meanwhile, the Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation reported that 623 hospital patients were awaiting beds on trolleys in both emergency departments and wards on Wednesday. The largest numbers were waiting at Cork University Hospital (58) followed by University Hospital Limerick (55) and Letterkenny General Hospital (43).

Source: The Irish Times February 14, 2018 21:00 UTC