Shortage of hospital consultants in Cork heaping pressure on waiting lists

Cork University Hospital. The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has said the shortage of consultants across Cork is leaving some patients unable to access surgical care.

A severe shortage of hospital consultants in Cork is heaping further pressure on waiting lists with one-in-five permanent consultant posts unfilled, and the county is one of the worst performing in the country on waiting list numbers.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has said the shortage of consultants across Cork, combined with bed capacity deficits, is leaving some patients unable to access timely, high-quality medical and surgical care.