Nearly 500 people waiting up to two years for a Roscommon appointment.
Received the letter below in response to a representation last week. All of these people are anxious to have their situation assessed by the Consultant. And some are in pain & serious discomfort!
40% of these cases have been prioritised as requiring immediate assessment, but with just one consultant visiting, twice a month; it will take some time to reach the top of that list. For those marked “routine” the will be waiting & waiting.
This is clearly as frustrating for the team at Roscommon Hospital.
It’s just not good enough that people should have to wait for such lengths of time, just to get on the “official” waiting list.
General Manager’s Office
Roscommon Hospital
Athlone Road,
Roscommon
Tel: (090) 663 2218 / 2270
26th February 2015
Mr. Denis Naughten, T.D.,
Dáil Éireann,
Dublin 2.
PQ Number:
8526/15
*To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive an appointment in Roscommon County Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Denis Naughten.
Re: xxxxxxxx awaiting ENT appointment at Roscommon County Hospital
Dear Deputy Naughten,
I refer to the above parliamentary question and set out a response here under:
We received a referral for xxxxxxxx on 4th February 2015 and Mr Gormley graded the letter Soon. There are 178 patients ahead of xxxxxxxx to be seen. All Urgent letters will get priority.
There is a long waiting list for ENT services in Roscommon Hospital currently standing at 475 referrals, with the longest waiting on our routine list since April 2013.
Each letter is triaged into three possible categories – Urgent/Soon/Routine, by the Consultant ENT surgeon and then called in chronological triage category order. All Urgent graded letters get priority, then Soon and then Routine. Mr Gormley is our only ENT Consultant and his clinics are held on the 1st and 3rd Monday (5th Monday if a 5 week month) of every month.
It is difficult to indicate when xxxxxxxx will be seen due to the high number of people waiting on this list. If xxxxxxxx symptoms have deteriorated she should return to her GP for more advice.
Regards and thanks,
Yours sincerely
General Manager.