Hospital waiting lists reach more than a million patients for the first time (opens original article in a new tab)

Hospital waiting lists in Ireland surpassed one million patients for the first time, with over 286,500 elective procedures cancelled in 2024 and growing concerns about the impact on patient care.

• Hospital waiting lists in Ireland exceeded one million patients for the first time in May 2025
• Over 286,500 elective procedures were cancelled in 2024, an increase of 19,000 from 2023
• Waiting lists for outpatients, inpatients, and day cases reached 72,180 in 2025
• The Irish Health Consultants Association warned that cancelling elective procedures harms patient health outcomes