44,000 people missed hospital appointments in Cork and Kerry in 2020

More than 5,400 patients were removed from waiting lists last year by the South/South-West Hospital Group. Stock Image.

More than 44,000 patients missed appointments at hospitals in the South/South West Hospital Group (SSWHG) in 2020, with the hospital group warning this may impact waiting times for other patients.

Information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act shows that some 44,688 appointments were recorded as “missed by patients” in the SSWHG, which covers Cork and Kerry, in 2020.