Ultimately, only one meeting between the HSE and Ryanair took place.
Health Service Executive (HSE) management held a meeting at Ryanair’s headquarters to explore the airline’s operational strategies as potential models for tackling hospital overcrowding and long waiting lists.
The initiative was proposed by Michael Cawley, Ryanair’s former deputy chief executive and now a member of the HSE board.
In emails to HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster, Mr Cawley suggested that Ryanair’s approach to punctuality could offer lessons for the health service.
He highlighted the airline’s daily 9 a.m. conference calls, during which managers from 95 bases report delays, discuss causes, and implement immediate solutions.
According to journalist Ken Foxe, Mr Cawley recommended applying a similar system first to hospital overcrowding and trolley use for a “quick win,” before addressing waiting lists.
Mr Gloster responded that he welcomed the opportunity to learn from Ryanair’s methods.
Ultimately, only one meeting between the HSE and Ryanair took place.
Meanwhile, the number of adults waiting for outpatient appointments at Naas General Hospital has risen sharply this year, with figures showing a jump of almost 1,700 patients between January and July 2025.
According to newly released data, 9,258 adults were on waiting lists at the start of the year.
By the end of July, that number had reached 10,948 - an increase of more than 18% in just six months.
At the end of December 2024, Naas had 8,789 adults waiting.
The bulk of patients on a waiting list this year - over 7,200 by July - are in the “0–6 months” waiting time category.
However, the number of long-wait patients is also climbing.
Those waiting over 18 months more than doubled in the same period, from 95 to 207.
While adult lists have surged, the situation for children is different.
The latest data shows ten children waiting in July, with almost all in the shortest wait category and none waiting over a year.
Nationally, 614,000 people are waiting to see specialists for outpatient consultations.
Data shows more than 100,000 patients are awaiting inpatient or day case treatment.
The figures also include over 107,000 patients scheduled for planned follow-up care, and more than 43,000 temporarily suspended from lists for medical or personal reasons.
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