Frontline staff want talks with Varadkar over waiting lists

The Health Minister Leo Varadkar is facing a call to meet with frontline staff in a bid to tackle hospital waiting lists.

It follows weekend newspaper claims that a memo shows numbers were being manipulated.

The HSE says it has no knowledge of the memo, but the Department of Health says it will be looking for explanations for the "serious allegations" from the HSE this week.

Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon Michael O'Keeffe says what's been done so far to reduce waiting lists isn't working.

Mr O'Keeffe said: "All we are doing is creating layers and layers of more management. We've a new man, Leo Varadkar, I've got great admiration for him because I think he's his own man.

"I think someone like him should come and talk to me and others, we'd give him a lot of practical suggestions and I think we might have some progress."