IrishMedicalNews

Inpatients and waiting lists down

Written by Paul Mulholland Monday, 19 October 2009 10:57

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Inpatient activity continues below 2008 levels with a reduction of over four per cent in elective discharges in line with service level objectives, according to the HSE.

The latest Performance Monitoring Report (PMR) also states that the total number of patients on waiting lists has reduced by four per cent and long waiters by 15 per cent. “This is due to a number of factors including increased referrals of patients to the NTPF and continued validation of waiting lists,” according to the Report.

The Report also states outpatient department (OPD) activity is showing a positive performance in 2009, with the total number of OPD appointments increasing by 3.2 per cent.

Also, the number of new OPD attendances has increased by almost six per cent, according to the HSE, which means in excess of 30,000 new OPD patients have been seen and treated in 2009 compared to 2008. The Report states presentations to hospitals and attendances at emergency departments continue to decrease and are almost three per cent lower than last year’s levels.

However, emergency admissions to hospitals have only decreased by 0.7 per cent in spite of the fall in presentations. Figures show that admissions in hospitals such as the Mercy University Hospital, Cork, and Beaumont Hospital, Dublin continue to be well above the six-hour target set by the HSE.