'Almost 50,000' on hospital waiting lists for more than 12 months

Nearly 50,000 people are waiting more than a year for treatment at hospitals around the country.

More than 2,800 cases on waiting lists are children, according to figures published in today's Irish Independent.

At Dublin's Tallaght Hospital, more than 6,900 people were waiting over a year at the end of September.

Bantry Hospital in Cork is the only facility where patients get to see their consultant within 12 months.

The Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar's spokesperson says new approaches are a "priority" for hospital groups next year.