LONGEST WAIT TIME FOR GALWAY ORTHOPAEDICS OUTPATIENTS

Date Published: 28-Jun-2012

The longest wait of time of six and a half years is recorded in the orthopaedics outpatients list at Galway’s public hospitals.

Almost 8 thousand patients are awaiting treatment at the unit.

The next two focus areas are Ear, Nose and Throat where 5 thousand 400 await treatment and Dermatology where 2 thousand 400 await appointment.

The figures were provided following a request from Cllr Padraig Conneely and show that a total of over 10 thousand are awaiting outpatient treatment at Merlin Park and UHG .

However the HSE stresses that half of these are waiting less than a year.

Speaking to Galway Bay fm news, Chief Operating Officer for the Galway and Roscommon Hospital Group Tony Canavan says the five year wait at orthopaedics is a result of a huge demand for treatment.