Mayo Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh TD has called on the government to take emergency action to address the spiralling waiting lists and ease the pressure on Mayo University Hospital.
Deputy Conway-Walsh said: "22 people have now been waiting more than four years to access inpatient treatment at MUH. At the end of 2020, there was one person waiting.
"Even taking into account covid restrictions and the HSE malware attack, it is shocking to think that anyone would have to wait this long to be seen.
"In 2021, we have seen the number of people waiting over two years rise from 172 to 270, while overall, the waiting lists for inpatient care have gone from 1,009 to 1,279. That is more than a 25% increase.
"There are currently 14,334 patients waiting for an outpatient appointment with a consultant in MUH. That has increased by 3,125 in the last 10 months and is a 28% increase this year.
"And this issue is not unique to Mayo. Across the state, when combined with diagnostics waiting lists, there are more than 1.1 million people waiting on healthcare in this state and that is a disgrace.
"That is why Sinn Féin has proposed funding for 600 more hospital beds next year above pre-committed levels and €150m investment in theatre capacity and diagnostic equipment. The government has failed to produce a credible plan for tackling waiting lists and they have failed to put the investment in. This is failing patients and staff in Mayo and throughout the state."
