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Hundreds of patients back on surgery waiting list 27.01.15

HUNDREDS of Donegal patients in need of surgery are being forced back on to long waiting lists with some 4,000 now waiting for procedures at Letterkenny General Hospital.
The figure includes 3,116 people still waiting as of last October with a further 523 patients set to be added to the queue due to a funding shortfall in the Outpatient Waiting List initiative.
Inishowen T.D., Charlie McConalogue described the figures as "completely unacceptable" and criticised the Government for failing to provide the necessary funding under the scheme.
"More than 500 people in Donegal had their surgeries outsourced to other hospitals, but because of this lack of funding have now been transferred back on to the public waiting list in Letterkenny, where they could be waiting up to 18 months to be seen by a consultant," said Deputy McConalogue.
Letterkenny General Hospital.
“Last week dozens of patients received letters informing them that as there was no funding available for the scheme this year, they are being returned to waiting lists at Letterkenny General Hospital." He claimed the Government had used the scheme to "massage" the waiting list figures but he said the funding had now been cancelled.
“Patients will now face further delays and will have to wait for a referral to a consultant at Letterkenny General Hospital before receiving a date for their surgery.
"This will also see people already on waiting lists at the hospital face even longer delays as a result of the transfer of these patients."
Deputy McConalogue said he had submitted further Dáil questions to Health Minister Leo Varadkar asking for funding to be provided for Phase 2 of the Outpatient Waiting List initiative.
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