170,000 waiting over six months to see consultants

Almost 170,000 people are waiting for a consultant appointment, with 316 left in limbo for over four years.

According figures released by the HSE and detailed by a new recording system, 167,825 people have been waiting between six months and four years from the date of GP referral until they were first seen by a consultant for the range of treatments at 30 public hospitals across the country.

This is due main to lack of staff, large catchment areas and consultants spending significant amounts of time treating private patients.