The number of people on a waiting list for an outpatient appointment at University Hospital Galway has gone up by over 4,500 in the past two year.
The latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund show that there are 39,662 people on an outpatient waiting list at UHG as of January 2019.
A significant increase on 35, 138 people in January 2017.
Galway TD Anne Rabbitte said the growing number of people on a waiting list is deeply concerning and requires the immediate intervention of the Minister.
“The list has increased year on year which begs the question where will we be next year.”
She said that having a waiting list nearly 40,000 people long is “unacceptable for one of the main hospitals in the western region.”
Of those people 6,708 have been waiting more than 18 months for an appointment.
“There are negative patient experiences as a consequence of these waiting lists,” The Fianna Fáil TD added.
“There is a wider concern that time spent waiting for an appointment may delay diagnoses or treatment.”
“The government must stand over their commitment to reduce waiting times and make the necessary changes to see the lists begin to reduce,” concluded Deputy Rabbitte.
