The Irish Patients' Association is calling for the establishment of a NPHET-style committee for non-Covid patients.
Figures released by the National Treatment Purchase Fund show record numbers of people waiting for an outpatient appointment in Irish hospitals.
613,000 patients are on this list, while 75,000 are waiting for inpatient or day case treatment.
Nearly 845,000 people are on some form of waiting list.
Waterford waiting lists
More people are waiting longer to see a consultant in Waterford than any other hospital in Ireland.
Almost 17,000 people have been on the outpatient list at University Hospital Waterford for at least a year and a half - that is an increase of one-third since October of last year when 12,546 were on the list for more than 18 months.
6,358 people are waiting at least a year and a half for an Ear, Nose and Throat (Otolaryngology) appointment at University Hospital Waterford.
2,744 are on the dermatology list and 2,539 people are waiting for an orthopaedics appointment for 18 months or longer.
IPA spokesman Stephen McMahon says as winter progresses the situation could become critical:
"The IPA has been calling now for some time that a similar NPHET-type committee should be set up for non-covid care because it's now becoming critical coming into the winter months - staff are going out sick, beds are being closed because of infection control, we have a massive shortage of consultants which needs to be addressed, we have a massive shortage of nurses."
