Thousands of frustrated patients are heading overseas for medical treatment as waiting lists in Irish hospitals continue to soar, new figures show. Patients pay upfront for their treatment and the cost is later reimbursed by the HSE. Minister for Health Simon Harris last month published a new action plan to reduce the number of patients waiting for hospital operations or procedures. The plan envisages the number of patients waiting longer than nine months to fall by 10,000. The NTPF says it will offer treatment to all patients waiting more than nine months in a number of high volume specialities - including cataract, hip and knee replacement, and tonsils.

Source: The Irish Times May 23, 2018 00:11 UTC