More than 952,887 people are currently on national public hospital waiting lists, reflecting a continued rise in demand for care.
Figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund for March show an increase of 9,800 patients compared with February, reports RTE.
Over 650,600 of those waiting are seeking their first appointment at an outpatient clinic with a consultant.
Speaking at the Irish Medical Organisation Annual Conference in Killarney, incoming president Professor Matthew Sadlier said waiting lists continue to grow and stressed the need for increased system capacity.
He said Ireland’s population has grown by around 30% over the past 15 years, placing additional pressure on healthcare services, reports RTE.
Professor Sadlier added that the health system requires approximately 5,000 additional hospital beds to cope with current demand.
The Department of Health said there has been measurable progress in reducing long waiting times for patients, reports RTE.
It stated that 150,000 fewer patients are now waiting more than 12 months for treatment compared with September 2021.
However, the department acknowledged that waiting lists have recently been affected by rising demand and increased referrals, which have outweighed gains from higher treatment activity in acute hospitals, reports RTE.
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