The number of people on hospital waiting lists has soared to just under 910,000 - a record high. 

In total, close to 654,000 people are waiting for a first outpatient consultation - up 41,00 since 2020. 

Speaking to Newstalk, Dr Martin Daly, a former president of the Irish Medical Organisation, said the figures are of huge concern: 

“It is extremely worrying and it is a story of tragedy for many families who are waiting for medical interventions in a hospital setting. 

“It also reflects a lot of pain and suffering for individual patients. And also loss productivity for younger people who are waiting for elected procedures in certain areas, such as orthopaedics.

“So these waiting lists are something this country should not be proud of.” 

Pre-existing problem 

He added that the issue was not simply a result of the pandemic: 

“Unfortunately, this issue pre-exists COVID. COVID simply crystallised out the lack of capacity within our health services. 

“And now we’re playing catch up again. We seem to limp year to year, trying to get ahead of waiting lists. 

“And at the same time, these waiting lists reflect a great deal of pain and suffering for individual patients.” 

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association has previously warned the figures could climb to a million by the end of 2021 and this week’s Budget allocated an extra  €250 million to the health service to cope with the crisis. 

Difficult winter

However, ahead of the announcement HSE CEO Paul Reid warned staff that the next few months will be tough: 

 “It is going to be a difficult winter.

"You can see some of the pressure on staff - many of them are exhausted after four waves of COVID and a cyberattack.

“We’re putting in a number of initiatives throughout winter, funded by the Government, to support the hospital system.”

 Plans include extra capacity in the public hospital system, as well as offering more community care outside of hospitals.

Main image: Beacon Hospital, Dublin. Picture by: Graham Hughes/Photocall Ireland