Patients face three-year wait for crucial lung function tests

Out of 19 pulmonary function laboratories which responded, nine said waiting lists for pulmonary function tests are now 18 months long or more, and four indicated a wait time of more than three years. File picture: PA

Patients in need of crucial lung function tests are waiting more than three years to be seen in some parts of the country, the Irish Lung Health Alliance has warned.

The lengthy wait is being blamed on a backlog of patients who delayed their tests through fear of catching Covid-19 in hospitals as well as ever-increasing numbers of Covid or long Covid patients and staff shortages, the alliance found following a survey of laboratories.