HSE Reports 39,000-47,000 Monthly Missed Outpatient Appointments; TD Ken O'Flynn Criticizes System
New HSE figures reveal 39,000 to 47,000 hospital outpatient appointments are missed monthly. Independent Ireland TD Ken O'Flynn criticized the health service, stating over half a million appointments are lost annually, indicating a system out of control. He has requested further details on costs and mitigation strategies from the Minister for Health.
Between 39,000 and 47,000 hospital outpatient appointments are missed monthly, according to new figures released by the Health Service Executive (HSE). These details were provided in response to a parliamentary question submitted by Independent Ireland TD Ken O'Flynn.
Mr. O'Flynn stated that these figures indicate over half a million outpatient appointments are missed annually, suggesting the health service is «failing patients in plain sight.» He emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting, «Half a million missed appointments every year. At the same time, patients are stuck on waiting lists. That is not bad luck. That is a system out of control.» He added, «You cannot run a health service like this. Doctors are ready. Clinics are open. Patients are waiting. Yet appointments are being lost at scale.»
O'Flynn argued that this failure extends beyond mere attendance issues, pointing to a more profound managerial breakdown. He expressed dissatisfaction with the data provided, stating, «I asked for weekly data by hospital. I did not get it. What I got was broad monthly figures that hide where the real problems are.» He concluded, «That tells you something. The system is not being tracked in a way that allows it to be fixed.»
In response, Mr. O'Flynn has requested additional information from the Minister for Health regarding the financial cost of these missed appointments, their impact on existing waiting lists, and the specific measures being implemented to mitigate these losses.