Leading consultant calls for long-term respiratory strategy as waiting lists grow
One of Ireland’s leading respiratory physicians has called for a long-term respiratory strategy to address the unmet needs of the growing number of chronic lung disease patients and combat the country’s worsening rates of lung cancer mortality.
Dr Aidan O’Brien, a consultant in respiratory medicine at University Hospital Limerick and president of the Irish Thoracic Society, said the strategy would also help the health service manage the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic by focusing on both community and acute care.
Dr O’Brien was speaking as new figures highlighted the growing number of respiratory patients awaiting diagnosis and treatment.
Record waiting lists a consequence of hospital consultant shortage, says IHCA
Soaring hospital waiting lists highlight the impact the consultant shortage is having on patient care, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has said.
Latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) showed that the consultant waiting list surged by 152 per cent over the past 12 months.
The number of people waiting more than 12 months to see a specialist, according to the NTPF, has increased by 4,133 since the start of the year; while, at the same time, 9,248 individuals have been added to adult general surgery outpatient waiting list.
“Each statistic represents a person waiting for the care they desperately need, while potentially deteriorating clinically or living in pain,” IHCA President
More hospital consultants needed to address record waiting lists - IHCA
National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) figures show that more than 72,000 patients are waiting for inpatient or daycase treatment and a further 612,000 patients are waiting for a first hospital outpatient appointment
The body, which represents around 3,000 hospital doctors, warned that patients are at risk unless more than 700 vacant consultant posts are filled on a permanent basis. File Picture
Sat, 12 Dec, 2020 - 10:57
Maresa Fagan
More hospital doctors are needed to address record waiting lists which have increased by 10% since the start of the year, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has said.
Industry and Employment Correspondent
When negotiations opened for a successor to the Public Service Stability Agreement in recent weeks, it was inevitable that there would be demands for real pay increases beyond the restoration of cuts imposed during the austerity era, as well as the rolling back of unpopular measures imposed the crisis.
The Government, for its part, would inevitably need an affordable deal, particularly given the parlous state of the Exchequer finances due to Covid-19 and Brexit.
It wanted to copper-fasten reforms, particularly those fast-tracked to tackle the coronavirus challenge.
When fully implemented in 2023, it will add €900m a year to the public sector bill.
Govt employees to receive 2% pay increases in new deal
Updated / Friday, 11 Dec 2020
15:06
Under the new public service deal, workers will get a general round increase worth 1% of gross pay or €500 per year, whichever is the greater, on 1 October
Industry and Employment Correspondent
Around 350,000 Government employees are set to receive general pay increases of 2% over the lifetime of the new two-year public service agreement, with the potential of a further 1% under new sectoral bargaining arrangements.
Under the two-year deal entitled Building Momentum - A New Public Service Agreement 2021-2022 , Government employees will also see a return to 2013 overtime and premium payment rates and a mechanism for the eventual return of additional unpaid hours imposed under the Haddington Road Agreement.