Elderly waiting three years for orthopaedic care
The HSE has confirmed a shocking 791 people — the vast majority of them elderly — have been told they cannot be seen by a doctor at Cork University Hospital (CUH) until at least January 2013, with 92 facing waits well into 2014.
Figures released at the latest HSE South regional health forum show 4,321 people are currently on outpatient orthopaedic waiting lists at the major Munster facility and St Mary’s Orthopaedic Hospital (SMOH).
While the average waiting time is 26 months, even those patients with “urgent” hip and knee problems will on average not be able to see a public consultant until March next year.
The HSE, which based the figures on the latest statistics from December 31, did not provide an age breakdown of the figures.
However, the vast majority of patients with orthopaedic conditions are elderly.
CUH’s division of trauma and orthopaedics oversees the treatment of most patients with this condition, with elective services in Cork offered by SMOH — which is the subject of controversial HSE downgrading plans.
In a statement responding to the situation, a HSE spokesperson said CUH is “in the process” of a “validation exercise” on how to reduce the waiting list rates, while physiotherapist-led clinics have been put in place since last June.
In the second half of last year he said 232 patients were assessed by the hospitals. However, to date just a third of these people have been referred to an orthopaedic consultant for treatment.
Physiotherapists are currently offering emergency stop-gap care for at least 20 patients every week for those waiting the longest and new GP hip and knee problem referrals.
Ger Reaney, the HSE’s integrated service area manager for Cork, added that new orthopaedic consultant surgeon positions promised in the HSE “reconfiguration roadmap” published last December are currently being advertised.
However, due to the length of the recruitment process, it is highly unlikely these posts will be filled until late this year at the earliest.
“The reduction of waiting times for orthopaedic patients will be a priority area for attention in 2011.
“Management in CUH have been asked to work with clinicians to prepare a detailed plan showing the extent to which the waiting lists and times can be reduced,” he said.
