Pandemic hits hospital waiting lists hard

The number of people waiting more than a year for surgery at Midland Regional Hospital Mullingar has increased by 1200 per cent since the start of the pandemic.

That’s according to new figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund, which reveal that the number of people waiting more than a year for surgery has rocketed from 81 on March 26 2020 to 1,072 on March 25 this year.

The NTPF figures also revealed that overall, the number of people on a waiting list for more than a year for treatments and appointments at Mullingar hospital has almost doubled since the start of the first lockdown. There are currently 3,260 people waiting more than 12 months for outpatient treatment and appointments at the hospital, compared to 1,695 on the same date in 2020 – an increase of 92% – giving a stark indication of the long-term impact that the pandemic will have on the health system.

Some departments are worst affected than others by the backlog that has been caused by the suspension of non-urgent procedures for much of the last 14 months.

While the surgery department has experienced the greatest increase in its waiting list, the number of people waiting more than a year for an appointment in the Gynaecology Department has almost trebled from 223 to 672.

There has also been a significant increase in the number of people waiting over a year for what are classified “general medical” appointments. Since March of last year the figures has risen from 713 to 1205, an increase of almost 70 per cent.

The number of children waiting for more than a year for treatments and appointments in the Paediatric Department has risen from only four in March of last year to 64 at the end of last month.

In total, the number of people on waiting lists for outpatient appointments and treatments at Mullingar hospital has risen from 8,069 to 9,381, an increase of 16%.

The number of people waiting over a year for in patient day appointments and treatments at Mullingar hospital has also risen significantly from 12 to 109.

In a statement issued to the Westmeath Examiner, the MRH Mullingar said:

“Regional Hospital Mullingar has been challenged by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic with patient and staff safety to the forefront.

“In order to meet Covid-19 Infection Control requirements, there was a requirement for the hospital to cancel some outpatient appointments and reduce the number of patients attending the Out Patient Department, over the course of the last year.

“This has significantly impacted on waiting times and numbers increasing the hospital’s waiting lists. The hospital outpatient attendances are currently operating at 75% to 80% of normal capacity with a combination of face to face and virtual clinics.

“Regional Hospital Mullingar hope that as the vaccination programme is implemented, this will result in a further increase in the number of patients attending scheduled care services.”