HSE winter plan will only cut 36,000 patients from waiting lists

Health minister Stephen Donnelly will be launching a multi-annual waiting list plan later in the year. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

The HSE's winter action plan will see Ireland's 761,000-strong hospital waiting lists reduced by only 36,000 by the end of this year.

The health authority has confirmed it is to offer "150,000 additional appointments, procedures, and/or removals [from waiting lists]" by December. But that will barely cancel out the expected hike in waiting lists if it does not implement the plan.