Local Sinn Féin Deputy, Sorca Clarke, has criticised the ever lengthening waiting list at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar with in excess of 8,992 persons awaiting an outpatient appointment.
“The current waiting list for a physiotherapy outpatient appointment in MRHM has 1160 names on it and on the pelvic health outpatient list a further 73 women are awaiting an appointment. The human cost is very real and very urgent.
“Behind record waiting times are stories of pain, worsening conditions, delayed diagnosis and treatment, stress, and worry.
“The hospital waiting list crisis can and must be fixed. Waiting lists have spiralled out of control and now over 900,000 people are on a healthcare waiting list. There is hardly a family in the country which is not affected by this scandal.
“Waiting lists in Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar are up more than 13 percent since the beginning of the pandemic. The health service is not fit for purpose and needs major investment to boost capacity if it is to tackle waiting lists,” Teachta Clarke commented.
Deputy Clarke further voiced her frustration at the government inaction with regard to hospital waiting lists.
“The government must act now and sort out the management of waiting lists and introduce a new centralised referral systems and an integrated waiting list management system.
“We also need delivery of a major increase in beds, staff, and diagnostic capacity to meet current needs and tackle waiting lists.
“Care can’t wait and waiting lists are having a catastrophic impact on people who feel abandoned on them with little hope of getting the care to which they are entitled.
“They are also creating problems for people who are receiving a late diagnosis or who may have developed a condition but cannot find out due to diagnostic waiting lists. The Minister must take charge of the waiting list crisis and deliver a capacity boost
“Sinn Féin in government would deliver a healthcare system which is fit to deliver the timely, high quality care that patients need. Change is possible and deliverable if the political will is there,” Teachta Clarke concluded.
