Close to 1,400 people on the outpatient list at University Hospital Galway are waiting for more than two years for their treatment, a situation which has been described as “truly shocking” by Sinn Féin senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh.
Sen Ó Clochartaigh was reacting to the latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund, which also show that the overall waiting list at the hospital has increased to 37,231 compared to 36,888 at the end of May. He also said the hospital has “the dubious distinction of having the highest number of people on the waiting lists in the State”.
The senator said the situation shows the Government “has not provided sufficient resources” to effectively tackle waiting list figures. He added: “I have no doubt the staff at the hospital are doing all they can to provide the best possible care for patients and tackle the waiting lists, but the systemic underfunding of the hospital over the past number of years has wreaked havoc.”
