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THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of General Practitioners has criticised efforts to remove patients across the country from hospital waiting lists, saying there is no medical reason to do so.
Calls have been made for the government to reform the waiting list system after a surge in the number of appointments that have been cancelled in recent weeks.
The HSE has been contacting patients across the country by post to ask them to confirm whether they still require an appointment.
However, those who don’t reply in writing within 10 days are deemed to no longer require their appointment, and their doctor informed that they have been removed.
The move has been described as a “national disgrace” by the NAGP, who say it is an attempt to manipulate waiting lists to make them appear smaller.
Over 700,000 people were on hospital waiting lists at the end of June, but the NAGP says it has heard from a number of GPs whose patients have been removed after not replying to the HSE.
NAGP President, Dr Maitiu O’Tuathail told TheJournal.ie that some doctors were receiving up to 100 letters a week asking them to validate their patients’ appointment.
He said: ”Normally GPs receive one or two validation letters a week, so to receive over 100 in a week is incredible.
“Many patients are also coming in to us in a panic because they worry that the letter isn’t going to reach the hospital on time.”
Dr O’Tuathail added that the move was disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable in society, including the elderly, those with visual impairments, and homeless people.
He said: “It’s pretty clear what this is about. There’s been a clear increase in the number of validation letters sent since waiting list figures hit over 700,000 a few weeks ago.”
Age Action also expressed concerns that older people would miss vital appointments because they cannot reply in writing in time, and urged the HSE to provide a dedicated phone number for older patients.
Meanwhile, the NAGP has called for a meeting with the HSE and the Department of Health to address the issue.
In a statement, the HSE said that validation exercises were carried out to help improve the overall use of resources and access times for patients.
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“The fire has now been put out” ….just like a 6 year old would say. Extinguished?
@Mark Johnson: by the fireman in the big wed twuck
Good old Sam
@Mark Johnson: 6 year old get such a raw deal!
@Mark Johnson: Oh, get a life! Perfectly good way to express it.
@Mark Johnson: the whole thing reads like a school essay. A pretty poor one at that!
@Mark Johnson:
Put out that ciggie ..
Make sure you put out the candle before you go to bed…
Turn off the gas cooker…
…..
What’s exthinguish,?
@Mark Johnson: who actually gives a f*ck you tool
I use to work there 25 year ago as a lounge boy. It was known as the Wharf Tavern back then.
@JC: cool
@JC: Did a bit of work for the family who owned it few years back.The woman told me a few good stories about that place.
@JC: that is not very interesting
@roderick: he would have worked for them,nice people.Smartarse
Hoses and water were used.
12:40 people in the pub hmmmm…. what’s the last call on a Wednesday….
@Derrick Ó Súilleabháin: 23:30, most pubs would start clearing people out at about 00:30, so not unusual for it to still have people in.
No more slate.
derelict?
The bottom of the hill pub in finglas went up in flames a couple of weeks ago.starting in the roof ..now the seabank… where’s next..
have your say