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Michael Healy Rae
THERE are 256 patients awaiting Orthopaedic Outpatient Appointments in University Hospital Kerry with 111 of them over 66 years of age, with some of those waiting up to a year already for an operation.
The most recent figures were released to Deputy Michael Healy Rae by the Department of Health following a Dáil question by the Kilgarvan TD.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the HSE had to take measures to pause all non-urgent elective scheduled care activity with effect from the end March 2020.
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However, this has seen a “very significant waiting list for Orthopaedic Outpatient Appointments,” Deputy Michael Healy Rae has stated.
In all 256 patients were waiting for an orthopaedic outpatient appointment in University Hospital Kerry as at May 28.
“At present 111 people who are awaiting an orthopaedic outpatient appointment are over 66 years of age with 32 of those already waiting over six months and it looks like they will be waiting even longer as hospitals are working to find innovative ways to enable service provision, which include virtual clinics for some outpatient department appointments,” Deputy Michael Healy Rae confirmed.
Meanwhile the Department of Health has confirmed to Deputy Michael Healy Rae that there are 4,675 people awaiting CT Scans, MRI’s and Ultra Sounds at UHK with 1,327 people waiting over a year to date.
