People in the North West waiting as long as 21 months for operations are unable to get through to hospitals to get further information.
A new programme on hospital waiting lists appears to have opened a can of worms on the length of time patients in the North West have been waiting for operations.
An RTE Investigates programme broadcast last night found tens of thousands of patients aren’t included on official waiting list figures.
The National Treatment Purchase Fund says the figures are compiled using “international best practices”.
A consultant in Donegal told Ocean FM News today that while he had not seen the programme he’s not surprised at the general findings.
A cancer campaigner in Donegal Betty Holmes says the programme has opened the floodgates for people calling her outlining that some have been waiting for up to two years for procedures.
She says people are frustrated and don’t know who to call:
Sinn Fein TD in Sligo Leitrim Martin Kenny said a constituent called him yesterday from the west Cavan area stating she was waiting over 21 months now for an operation for cataracts.
Deputy said when he tried to call the hospital in question in Dublin this morning he tried 28 times but never got through.
He says the situation is completely frustrating for people:
