For the first time, the waiting lists for Irish public hospitals has surpassed one million patients.
This was revealed by the National Treatment Purchase Funday yesterday, saying that the waiting lists increased by more than 5,000 in a month to break the 1 million figure. The figures also showed that there were over 1,000,226 people waiting for some kind of hospital care last month.
It was also found that more than half, 692,524 are waiting for a consultation with the outpatient department, with a consultation for the first time.
The waiting list stood at 995,299 patients in August, and by September, the figures saw an increase of 4,297 patients.
This excludes the 40,472 patients listed as "suspended" as they were deemed unfit for treatment. This usually was due to social reasons, or because they are part of the HSE system for insourcing and outsourcing for their treatment to be conducted, including privately for the State.
The Department Health have said that the waiting list numbers of September do show some positive signs, including a continued decrease in the number of patients on the inpatient/day cases lists since the end of July.
They also said that the ongoing trend for higher demand and increased referrals has impacted the recent waiting lists, and this has offset the significantly increases levels of activity which are being delivered in acute hospitals.
It was also revealed by Children's Health Ireland, that there are 174 children waiting for spinal surgery by the end of last month.
Speaking about this, Labour Party spokesperson for health, Marie Sherlock had called these figures a "scandalous new milestone" for the hospital system, adding that this does not even consider the waiting lists for community and primary care.
Elsewhere, Chairman of the Irish Patients Association, Stephen McMahon had said that any improvements to waiting lists were welcome, but the current situation is worse than the one for September 2025.
"A recent improvement in one category cannot be allowed to obscure the national picture. More than one million patients are now recorded on public hospital waiting lists, with substantial increases in prolonged waits," Mr McMahon said.
"The NTPF has confirmed that it does not collect the activity data needed to show how many waiting-list patients were actually treated or seen. Without that information, the public cannot reconcile who joined the lists, who received care, and who was removed without treatment.
"The Government must publish a credible recovery plan with measurable reductions and complete monthly reporting on patient additions, treatment and removals", he said. "Patients need clear evidence of sustained reductions across the waiting-list system". (All quotes according to RTÉ).
