Backlog On Waiting Lists Could Take 15 Years To Clear Warns ICHA

Monday, 29 August 2022 16:52

By Caoimhe Harney

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association is calling for more beds.

Over 906 thousand people are on hospital waiting lists, according to the Irish Hospital Consultants Association's.

It's warning it could take 15 years to get through the backlog in care, which was made considerably worse by the pandemic.

Ahead of next month's Budget, the group is calling for more resources and better employment conditions, as it struggles to fill the 882 permanent posts currently left vacant in Irish hospitals.

It says poor pay and conditions along with a shortage of beds is causing a recruitment crisis within the healthcare sector.

The ICHA say over 906 thousand people are waiting for a medical consultation as the industry copes with a recruitment crisis coupled with delays caused by Covid.

The Association is also highlighting the need for more hospital beds, it says the Government is 300 beds short of reaching the 5,000 promised in last year’s budget.

Vice President of the IHCA, Professor Rob Landers, says people's health is suffering due to a lack of resources:

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