Almost 30,000 people are waiting more than six months for planned hospital treatment.

The number of adults on waiting lists for inpatient and daycare has spiralled from 9,643 up to 26,838 since the coalition took office in March of 2011.

An additional 2,944 children were also waiting more than six months for planned treatments according to reports in the Sunday Business Post.

Elective care is hospital care that is planned in advance as opposed to being done in an emergency situation.
The figures were released by the National Treatment Purchase fund.