Outpatient waits continuing to rise

The number of patients waiting in excess of 12 months in September for an outpatient appointment has increased from 41,604 to 46,642. Overall, January to September 2014 saw an increase of 3.8 per cent (88,512) in OPD attendances in comparison to 2013. In September, 87 per cent of patients waiting on the outpatient waiting list were waiting less than 12 months. In September 2013, 78 per cent of patients were waiting less than this 12-month target. The outpatient improve-ment programme continues to make progress in streamlining referral processing and targeting capacity gains for increased new appointments, the HSE has insisted,…