A Waterford doctor says a properly resourced GP service could take people off hospital waiting lists.

Almost 37,000 people were waiting for an outpatient appointment at University Hospital Waterford at the end of 2018.

15 thousand of them had been on that list for a year or more.

Dr. Paul O’Hara, from John’s Hill Medical Practice in Waterford City, says they try their best not to send people to hospital.

“There are some people who end up in A and E, either referring themselves, or (who) are referred because we can’t access the diagnostics,” he says. “With better funding in general practice… a lot of patients who are on waiting lists could easily be managed by their GP.”