Waiting list doubles for consultant appointments

on 20/09/2012 19:02:30

The number of people waiting for a hospital appointment with a consultant has almost doubled to 340,000 since last April.

New figures from the HSE show that more than two thirds of patients were waiting less than 12 months from the date of referral - but some 16,700 have been waiting for more than four years for an appointment.

The report also said that there has been no underlying reduction in the rate of health spending, with Hospitals now running a deficit of nearly €180 million.

At the end of last month - the HSE was running a budget overspend of €270 million.