LOCAL politicians have accused the Health Service Executive (HSE) West of “running down” the public health system, following confirmation that almost 23,000 people are on hospital waiting lists in Galway
The number would virtually “fill the city’s GAA Pearse stadium”, according to Mayor of Galway Cllr Padraig Conneely (FG).
He was commenting on the extent of waiting list figures for the region’s two main public hospitals, discussed at last week’s HSE West health forum.
Some 20,141 people are on the list for University College Hospital, Galway (UCHG) and 2,879 are on the list for procedures at its sister hospital at Merlin Park. Some 220 people have been waiting almost five years, and face further delays at a time of anticipated cutbacks.
HSE West has a budget of €14.79 billion this year, but has to save €520 million. Dr Sean Conroy, HSE West director of regional health, told the health forum that fewer beds would be available in hospitals and there would be more emphasis on community care during a “very demanding” year.
Councillors attending the forum expressed anger at the extent of existing waiting lists,with the highest category being in ear, nose and throat cases (4,213), followed by 2,778 procedures classified as “medical”.
In Merlin Park, the bulk of the cases relate to orthopaedics (2,089). In a comment on the detailed breakdown of the lists, HSE West has said that “urgent cases are prioritised over routine”.
Cllr Conneely expressed concern that increasing referrals of public patients to private consultant clinics constituted a running down of the public health system, while Cllr Catherine Connolly (Ind) asked why a building heated and maintained by HSE West over three years for community care had not been opened.
Several councillors pointed out that consultants would have no incentive to work through public health lists when they knew that the patients would be referred to them privately.