Cuts to extend waiting list at Munster pain relief clinic

Hundreds of people in need of significant pain relief support are set to see waiting lists surge as a result of health service retirements and budget cutbacks.

The HSE South’s senior management has confirmed patients with a range of debilitating pain issues will be told they must be placed on growing waiting lists or face travelling to Dublin from the end of this month.

This is due to cutbacks at the Waterford Regional Hospital, which include the reduction of Munster’s only public pain relief clinic theatre sessions from two to one per week, along with funding cuts and the retirement of a full-time clinical nurse specialist.