Waiting lists proof of health’s fraudulent budget

Opposition parties have claimed the shocking 968% increase in some hospital waiting lists since the start of the year is "proof" of the Government’s "fraudulent" health budget for 2014.

Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary made the allegation in the Dáil yesterday during a heated exchange with Jobs Minister Richard Bruton over the sudden rise in people waiting more than nine months for inpatient and day case treatment in public facilities.

National Treatment Purchase Fund figures, revealed on Tuesday, show that from January to July, the number of people whose access to care has been delayed that amount of time has surged from 510 to 5,448.