Government’s health strategy 'failing'

09/09/2005 - 15:02:30
Hospital consultants said waiting list figures released today show that the Government's health strategy is failing.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund said 6,500 people had to wait at least six months for a hospital bed since they were diagnosed by consultants.

In November 2001, the then Minister for Health Micháel Martin promised that by the end of last year, no-one would have to wait more than three months for a bed.

But Donal Duffy of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association said the investment that was promised then was never delivered on.

He said that people will continue to wait months for hospital beds unless the Government intervenes.