Varadkar: I only want to see accurate waiting list figures
Health Minister Leo Varadkar said today that he is only interested in seeing hospital waiting lists that are accurate.
Minister Varadkar says lists that make the situation look better than it is - are of no use to him when negotiating for a good health budget.
It was claimed yesterday that an internal memo was sent to Health Service Executive staff urging them to manipulate waiting lists.
The HSE says it has no knowledge of such a document.
Minister Varadkar is also insisting there is no HSE policy in place to manipulate hospital waiting lists.
"I've spoken to the HSE about this matter today," he said.
"There's no policy to manipulate waiting lists. The only waiting lists figures that I'm interested in are accurate ones that allow us to plan services.
"And certainly when it comes to negotiating a good budget for health, waiting list figures that make the situation look better than it is are no good to me."
