HSE figures show almost 170,000 waiting to see consultants
New figures from the Health Service Executive (HSE) show that almost 170,000 outpatients have been waiting since January 2011 to be seen by consultants at 30 hospitals.
Of the 167,825 patients, 71% have been waiting less than six months.
The Outpatient Data Quality Programme was introduced in hospitals in January of last year.
The figures available represent just over 70% of outpatients in Ireland.
A number of the country's biggest hospitals have yet to present their figures, meaning the numbers are likely to rise further.
Ten hospitals have described the numbers of patients waiting more than a year.
Some 316 people have been waiting more than four years to be seen by a consultant, while 6,830 have been waiting for between one and two years.
St. James' Hospital in Dublin is the only hospital where nobody is waiting longer than six months.
The HSE said the programme should remove or reduce unacceptable risks that have previously arisen in the outpatient sector, and will improve the way that hospitals manage outpatient services.
As part of that, referral numbers by specialty are now reported each month, with hospitals for the first time being required to date stamp referrals on receipt, and to enter them immediately into their systems.
The HSE said the changes mean it is now compliant with recommendations HIQA made last year.
