There’s been a 50% increase in the numbers of people waiting to see a consultant in Waterford over the past four years.

40,103 people were waiting for an outpatient appointment at UHW at the end of May.

It’s the highest number since the National Treatment Purchase Fund began publishing the data at the end of 2014.

The Waterford figure was 26,000 in May of 2015.

Of the 40,103 people waiting, 11,412 are waiting at least 18 months to be seen.

Ear Nose & Throat has the longest list in the hospital with 9,242 waiting to see a consultant for the first time. Almost 40% or 3,648 are on that list for 18 months or more.

Almost 7,000 people are waiting for an Orthopaedic appointment, a quarter of whom are waiting at least a year and a half.

Close to 5,000 are on the dermatology list with 13 hundred waiting at least 18 months.