Tallaght dermatology waiting list
Deputy Crowe criticises long waits for dermatology appointments at Tallaght Hospital and cites large waiting-list figures. The Tánaiste says the Government is taking steps on waiting lists and advises tabling a specific question to the Health Minister.
I refer to waiting lists and access to a dermatologist in Tallaght Hospital, for which one of my constituents has been waiting for 12 months. When I put a question on this case to the Minister for Health, he indicated there were 2,868 people on the waiting list and that 43% of these had been waiting for eight months or less. This means 57% have been waiting for longer than eight months. Of these, 691 have been waiting for 18 months or longer. There is clearly something wrong. It is cruel, inhuman and dangerous to have people wait so long to access a dermatology service, especially as some of them have serious conditions. Is there anything the Government can do?
Comment on this
The Government is doing a range of things to address waiting lists, from funding operations outside of the State to recruitment campaigns. I suggest the Deputy table a specific question to the Minister for Health on the issues at Tallaght Hospital and the need to recruit a dermatologist.