The Mater hospital admitted 44 per cent fewer patients for elective surgery in the period January to July 2003 compared with the same period last year, according to analysis by the Irish Patients Association.
The total number of admissions to the Dublin teaching hospital dropped by 14.3 per cent, the IPA says.
The Irish Patients Association analysis, compares the activity in Dublin hospitals, shows that of the capitals five teaching hospitals, the Mater has the worst performance.
Earlier this year the Mater had to close beds and let front-line staff go as a result of a significant budgetary deficit. It was also forced to close part of its medical assessment unit, which had been successful in reducing waiting times for people attending its accident and emergency unit.
On a positive note, St James's Hospital has achieved the Health Strategy target of having no adult patient wait longer than 12 months for treatment.
Several hospitals appear to have benefited from the input of the National Treatment Purchase Fund. Beaumont hospital treated 210 patients under the NTPF in the second quarter of the year compared to 69 in the first quarter. Tallaght hospital almost doubled the number of NTPF patients treated.
However, St. Vincent's Hospital only managed to treat an additional 7 patients under the NTPF initiative to tackle "long waiters" when second and first quarter figures for the hospital are compared.