Numbers waiting for outpatient appointments rose by 33,000 since January

The NTPF confirmed that the number of patients waiting for their first hospital outpatient consultation had been falling in 2023, but has only increased in 2024. Picture: iStock

The number of people waiting for an outpatient appointment has jumped by almost 33,000 since January, new data shows.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) has confirmed there are now 601,490 people waiting for their first hospital outpatient consultation, up from 568,691 in January.