Over 284,000 waiting for initial care service appointment

Over 284,000 individuals are currently waiting for their first appointment in primary and community care services, according to recent data released by the Health Service Executive (HSE). The figures show that nearly 40 percent, approximately 120,640 patients, are children, many of whom face waits exceeding one year. These numbers highlight a deepening crisis within Ireland’s healthcare system, with waiting times stretching across multiple disciplines such as audiology, dietetics, occupational therapy, ophthalmology, physiotherapy, podiatry, and psychology. The data emerged following a parliamentary inquiry initiated by Sinn Féin’s Health Spokesperson, David Cullinane. He questioned the HSE regarding the state of waiting lists, prompting the release of detailed statistics. Among the most affected areas is physiotherapy, where 90,030 people are waiting for an initial assessment. Of these, 27,718 have been waiting for more than 52 weeks. In the field of occupational therapy, the situation is particularly dire for children, with 30,148 young patients awaiting their first assessment. Nearly half of these, 17,319, have been waiting for over a year. Children's waiting lists extend beyond occupational therapy. For instance, there are 21,784 children awaiting an initial assessment for speech and language therapy, with 1,647 of them having waited more than two years. Similarly, 6,475 children are waiting for initial therapy, while 9,593 are waiting for follow-up sessions. In psychology, 32,038 children are waiting for an initial appointment, and 3,389 of them have been waiting for more than a year. Regional disparities in access to services are evident. In counties Waterford and Wexford, 13,309 people are waiting for a physiotherapy assessment, with 8,484 of them having waited for more than a year. This accounts for nearly 64 percent of the entire physiotherapy list in the region. In podiatry, 422 of the 429 people on the Waterford-Wexford list have been waiting for over a year. In the Midlands, approximately two-thirds of the 2,494 people waiting for a dietetics appointment have been waiting for more than a year. David Cullinane criticized the current state of affairs, calling some of the figures “appalling.” He emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive plan to recruit staff to address the backlog. Cullinane noted that these community waiting lists exist alongside nearly one million people already waiting for care in acute hospitals. He argued that people should not be forced to endure prolonged waits for essential care that should be accessible quickly and locally. Cullinane also highlighted the contradiction between the growing waiting lists and the promises made under the Sláintecare initiative, which aimed to shift care from acute hospitals to community-based settings. His legislative proposal seeks to mandate monthly publication of community waiting lists by the National Treatment Purchase Fund, aiming for greater transparency similar to that expected in hospital systems. In response to the concerns raised, the HSE acknowledged the issue and stated its commitment to providing efficient, high-quality services. A spokesperson mentioned that increasing access to primary and community care is a key objective of the 2026 HSE National Service Plan. They outlined several initiatives being developed to alleviate the pressure on waiting lists, including the recruitment of 202 additional staff members across various roles such as therapists, case coordinators, and student placements. These developments occur amid heightened scrutiny of budgetary constraints within the health service. As the HSE continues to grapple with financial challenges, the focus remains on implementing effective strategies to reduce waiting times and improve patient outcomes across both primary and secondary care sectors.