A mother whose daughter has spent almost her entire life on hospital waiting lists has told Newstalk Breakfast that it feels like the State isn't taking care of public patients.

Recent figures released by the Health Minister show at least 86,625 children across the country are on hospital waiting lists to see a specialist, compared to a previously revealed figure of 46,000.

The smaller figure only encompasses the country's three children hospitals, with the larger number including data from around two dozen others hospitals around the country.

Siobhan Fields' daughter Megan - who is 10-years-old, going on 11 - is just one of the children on those waiting lists - and she has spent most of her life on 'waiting list upon waiting list'.

Most recently, she has been on the ear, nose and throat waiting list for over a year now - having initially been referred in October 2017 for getting her tonsils out.

Siobhan speaks to Kieran Cuddihy on Newstalk Breakfast to share her story.