According to the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), the figure grew from over 584,000 in June to over 601,000 in July. Meanwhile, 832,443 people were on some form of NTPF waiting list in July, an increase of 15,727 (1.9 per cent) in one month and 63,679 (8.3 per cent) since the start of the year.
The number of people waiting on inpatient or day case treatment stands at 80,283, a rise of 13,720 (20.6 per cent) since the start of 2020.
Consultants have warned that these growing waiting lists are not simply a result of the Covid-19 pandemic; but demonstrate the impact of years of consultant shortages and underinvestment in capacity across the health system.
Ireland already has 41 per cent fewer medical specialists on a population basis than the EU average, and a third to a half the number in some specialties, according to the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA).
No surprise
Dr Donal O'Hanlon, president of the IHCA, said: “While the fact that waiting lists are continuing to rise comes as no surprise, we cannot become complacent. The reality is we shouldn’t accept this situation and we don’t need to either. Decisive action must be taken now to prevent a winter like no other.
“The increasing number of people waiting to see consultants or have treatment has overall increased month-on-month, as a result not only of the coronavirus but also due to persistent consultant shortages and a lack of capacity in the system."
“Our health service capacity deficits can and should be addressed immediately. The Minister for Health’s previous commitment to address the consultant recruitment and retention crisis, and to get more specialists back working in our acute hospitals is key to reducing waiting lists. But it requires the Minister for Health and the government to end as promised the discrimination since 2012 against new consultants," Dr O'Hanlon added.
