Waterford Hospital using retired doctors to help clear cancer test backlog

"Depending on retired people really is no way to be running a health service"

Consultant histopathologist at University Hospital Waterford, Professor Rob Landers, said: “I would say it will take two months at a minimum to get the turnaround times to within an acceptable limit. File picture: Denis Minihane

The Irish Cancer Society has warned that delays in diagnosis could put patients' lives at risk as University Hospital Waterford is forced to use retired doctors to help tackle a major laboratory backlog.

The Irish Examiner revealed this week that up to 6,000 patients across the southeast are being forced to wait several months for cancer test results.