Hospitals to cancel ENT waiting lists

TWO Dublin hospitals are considering cancelling out patient referrals for ear, nose and throat (ENT) operations because of escalating surgical waiting lists, consultants have warned.

Consultant otolaryngologists at both Beaumont and Tallaght Hospitals have warned bed shortages and time pressures on operating theatres may force the closure of inpatient waiting lists.

Speaking to Medicine Weekly, Professor of Otolaryngology Michael Walsh, consultant at Beaumont, said the situation was now an ethical issue.

“What is the point of seeing a patient that cannot be treated in a reasonable time Delays in treatment also raise serious medico-legal issues.”

According to the latest waiting list figures for the end of December 2002, there are now more than 3,000 patients awaiting in-patient ENT treatment in Ireland. Beaumont accounts for 513 of these, while Tallaght Hospital has 375 cases awaiting surgery.

Professor Walsh said the reasons behind the spiralling waiting lists were mainly due to the lack of vital resources such as beds and theatre time.

Because just 15-20% of ENT admissions are emergency cases, the speciality is particularly vulnerable to the cancellation of routine admissions due to A&E pressures.

A spokesman for Beaumont said the hospital acknowledged that waiting lists existed for many procedures.

“We also acknowledge that A&E pressures exert significant influence on scheduled admissions and obviously this is not ideal,” the spokesman said.

Mr Donald McShane, consultant ENT surgeon at Tallaght, has also indicated they are considering curtailing out-patient referrals.

Meanwhile a spokeswoman for Tallaght Hospital has appealed to the public not to attend the adult A&E unless absolutely necessary between Saturday June 7 and Wednesday June 11. Services will be curtailed while fire doors are replaced, by order of the Health and Safety Authority.