Hospital Waiting Lists

Tuesday, 28 April 2026

Questions (1224)

Michael Collins

Question:

1224. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Health the reasons waiting times to be seen by the ENT department at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital have exceeded 18 months for non urgent patients; the number of patients currently on the ENT waiting list at that hospital; the number that have been waiting longer than 12 and 18 months respectively; and the actions being taken to reduce these waiting times, particularly for young adults whose education and quality of life are being significantly affected by repeated infections and reliance on long term antibiotics; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30374/26]

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Written answers

Minister for Health

It is acknowledged that many patients are still waiting too long for hospital appointments and treatments. I am conscious of the burden that this places on patients and their families.

I published the Waiting Time Action Plan (WTAP) for 2026 on January 30th, as part of this Government’s ongoing commitment to improving access to hospital care and reducing waiting times for patients.

The multi-annual Action Plan approach was implemented in September 2021 to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists and waiting times. Significant progress has been made under this approach in reducing the length of time patients are waiting.

With the 2026 plan, we will continue to build upon the progress delivered to date under the multi annual action plan approach, moving towards the ultimate vision of a public healthcare service in which everyone has timely access to high-quality scheduled care, where and when they need it.

Adult and child waiting list information by hospital, specialty, and time band is published monthly by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) on its website: www.ntpf.ie/home/nwld.htm

The information is now being made available through an interactive visual tool which provides users with a much-improved way of accessing and analysing waiting list information.