Health Minister denies the waiting list crisis will take five years to address

Mr Donnelly acknowledged that there are “significant issues” in the recruitment and retention of consultants, particularly in certain specialties and certain locations. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins Photos

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has dismissed suggestions that people are going to have to wait five years for the waiting list crisis to be addressed.

He told hospital consultants that the waiting list for a hospital appointment, which has now exceeded the 900,000 mark, is “completely unacceptable”.