Minister for Health highlights progress made tackling waiting lists in Louth

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly, has announced an update on the progress made to address hospital waiting lists in 2023 across the north-east region. According to the Minister, overall hospital waiting lists in the north-east fell by 950 patients, while those waiting longest (over 12 months) saw significant reductions. 

At the Louth County Hospital, there were 1,140 fewer patients on outpatient waiting lists, representing a 37% reduction.

There was a 100% reduction, or 323 fewer, patients waiting longer than 12 months for an outpatient appointment and a 48% reduction (380 patients) for those waiting between six and 12 months. 

At Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda, there was a 91% reduction, or 1,300 fewer patients, waiting over 12 months for an outpatient appointment.

There was a 6% reduction (850 fewer patients) in overall outpatient waiting lists, as well as a 27% reduction in those waiting for a GI scope. 

Minister Donnelly said: “Throughout 2023 we’ve been tackling waiting lists hospital by hospital and specialty by specialty. Thanks to the enormous efforts of our healthcare workers in hospitals in Louth, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan, we have fewer patients waiting longer now than we did a year ago.

"2023 was the second year in a row that we achieved this progress and I’m determined that fewer patients again will be waiting at the end of 2024 across the north-east.”

Welcoming the update from Minister Donnelly, Louth based Senator Erin McGreehan said: “It is thanks to the hard work and efforts of the excellent frontline healthcare staff in our hospitals in Louth that we have fewer patients on waiting lists now than a year ago.

"Our healthcare staff are working tirelessly under pressure with the resources they have available to treat increasing numbers of patients."

She added, "Nationwide, under my party colleague, Minister Stephen Donnelly, over 177,000 more patients were removed from acute hospital waiting lists compared with 2022.

"As the year progresses, I hope to see further progress on waiting lists and I will do continue to do everything I can to ensure the people of Louth have the best access to quality healthcare possible.”