COVID-19 Pandemic Blamed for Significant Delays, HSE Reports
Waiting lists for community healthcare services have surged by more than 50% in the past five years, now totaling over 230,000 people, new data reveals.
An analysis of Health Service Executive (HSE) figures by Sinn Féin shows that as of May, 233,766 people were on waiting lists for assessments or services such as occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and physiotherapy. This marks a stark increase from 148,697 people in May 2019.
Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane highlighted that waiting lists for primary and community care have shot up by 57% since 2019, with the number of people waiting over 12 months more than doubling in that period.
The HSE attributed the rise to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected many service areas. A spokesman noted that while the number of patients seen in these services increased by 6% last year, the number of referrals grew by 7%, leading to longer waiting lists. The increase in referrals is largely driven by the growing demand for children’s services, which are typically more complex and require more visits.
David Cullinane has called for community care waiting lists to be published monthly, similar to hospital waiting lists. He criticized the recent recruitment embargo and cap on recruitment, describing it as a “reckless and short-sighted decision” by the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly and the government.
In response, the HSE stated that it periodically publishes data on community services and recently ended the recruitment pause. It is also reforming community-based care in line with the State’s Sláintecare strategy, which aims to move care from hospitals to community settings. The HSE has implemented a “focused programmatic approach” to address waiting lists and improve patient experiences.