An incredible 596,099 patients are waiting for a first outpatient consultation in an Irish hospital, figures released by the National Treatment Purchase Fund have revealed.

The figures, released last week, also show that at the end of February, a total of 83,723 patients were waiting for an appointment for their inpatient or day case treatment, while 25,234 patients were waiting to receive an appointment for their GI Endoscopy.

Elsewhere, 96,089 patients are recorded in the Planned Procedure category and 66,923 of these patients have indicative dates in the future or have an appointment. Pre-Admit data also shows that 30,584 have been given a date for their Inpatient/Daycase or Endoscopy procedure.

Meanwhile, the INMO yesterday revealed that 651 patients were without beds in Irish hospitals. The organisation subsequently issued a statement declaring that overcrowding in Irish hospitals is ‘out of control’.

“The level of overcrowding in some of our emergency departments warrants a national response,” said INMO General Secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha, who last month addressed the Oireachtas Health Committee on the welfare and safety of workers in the healthcare sector.

“The INMO has been in contact with the new Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive seeking an urgent meeting in the next 24 hours ahead of what will be an extremely busy bank holiday weekend for our members.