Chemo and dialysis among treatments cancelled due to record hospital overcrowding

IHCA president Robert Landers warned that important treatments are making way for emergency day care: 'Regrettably, in the short term, waiting lists are likely to deteriorate further.' Picture: ihca.ie

Chemotherapy and dialysis are among some of the treatments being cancelled as the country's hospitals grapple with record overcrowding, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has warned.

Cancellations to make room for emergency care have seen hospital waiting lists balloon by an additional 9,000 patients since December. The hospitals were directed by HSE CEO  Bernard Gloster to avoid holding routine surgeries during the start of the year as patient numbers were set to spiral at emergency departments.