More than 46,000 people waiting longer than 18 months for vital scans
The Irish Cancer Society and opposition politicians are calling for even more investment in equipment and staffing.
New figures in the today show that more than 46,000 people are waiting longer than 18 months for vital scans — what could be behind this?
These figures are from a National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) pilot project gathering information on waits for CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds.
It is likely to be only the first of many shocks as better data collection and the move to digital health records delivers more detailed information.
The HSE is entering its first full year of working in regions. Each region has to know its health challenges, otherwise it could get too small a budget.
One likely factor in these figures — described by Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane as ‘extraordinary” when the HSE released the data to him — is demand.
An NTPF-funded programme sees hospitals send patients for private scans.
The Irish Hospital Consultants Association raised alarms last year that 79% of the annual allocation was used by February.
A separate scheme for GPs saw more than 700,000 scans delivered privately between January 2021 to 2024, a doubling of demand.
The growing population, now at 5.4m, is likely one factor.
Ireland happily has more over 75s than ever before; they have higher health needs and also higher expectations of living well.
Is there, as Marie Sherlock of Labour has suggested, a forecasting failure?
There is growing concern about increasing numbers of younger people with cancers and diseases, including heart attacks. Scans are a key part of this care.
The Irish Heart Foundation estimates working-age people now account for more than one in four strokes.
National Cancer Registry Ireland data showed bowel cancer rates among under-50s almost doubled in 25 years by 2019.
Doctors say it is not yet clear why this is happening, but some high-profile studies are raising questions about modern life.
Last week, a major study in warned that ultra-processed foods are “a key driver” of harm even to organs.
A Trinity College Dublin study on nanoplastics found harm to brain cells equivalent to the impact of Parkinson’s Disease, leading to advice against heating food or drinks in plastic.
The World Conference on Lung Cancer, a few days ago, heard new evidence linking air pollution to this cancer.
The Irish Cancer Society and opposition politicians called for even more investment in equipment and staffing.
The national development plan allocates €9.25bn to health for 2026 to 2030 — but is it enough?
For patients, cancer survivor Miriam Staunton stressed the importance of scans, saying: “When I was in that stage, you really do live your life in three-month buckets.
"You are waiting for scans, waiting for results, the anxiety is not to be underestimated."
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