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The latest hospital waiting list figures were published today by the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).

The multi-annual Action Plan approach initiated in September 2021 is focused on improving waiting times for patients, and the Waiting Time Action Plan (WTAP) 2026, embodies the Government’s commitment to reducing waiting times for patients, thereby improving access to hospital care.

The health service has seen significant progress in reducing the length of time patients are waiting under the multi-annual Action Plan approach, including a reduction of circa 48% or c. 135,400 less patients waiting over 12 months since September 2021. In the same period there was an improvement of c. 43% or 5.2 months in the Weighted Average Wait Time (WAWT) that patients across lists have been waiting.

Notwithstanding these longer-term improvements, waiting lists more recently have been impacted by the ongoing trend of higher demand and increased referrals, which has offset the significantly increased levels of activity that are being delivered in acute hospitals.

Demand for scheduled, or planned, care has increased significantly in recent years, exceeding both pre-pandemic levels and demographic expectations. While the health service aims to prevent waiting lists from growing, higher levels of referrals can also indicate better access to necessary care, increased awareness of available services, and expanded service provision. Growth in the levels of diagnostic activity being achieved may also be contributing to this increased demand.

The Waiting Time Action Plan for 2026 sets out 36 actions under three themes that will have a significant impact on waiting lists and real benefits for patients. Centralised referrals and pooled waiting lists are being implemented under the theme of “Reforming Planned Care”. A number of digital and enabling technologies are being progressed under the theme of “Enabling Planned Care”, including continued expansion of virtually-based patient engagement and further roll out of features within the HSE Health App. Planned care capacity is being maximised under the theme of “Capacity Optimisation”, including the additional activity being delivered through the new surgical hubs.

These WTAP actions will work in tandem with the delivery of increased capacity, and with emerging clinical and technical innovations as part of a more integrated approach to planned care delivery, including:

The figures published today show some positive signs, including a reduction in the number of patients on the Inpatient / Day Cases (IPDC) list since the end of July. The Department will continue to work with the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the NTPF to improve waiting list performance, ensuring the WTAP actions are fully implemented, and that innovative approaches to care delivery are being maximised. This will include engagement through the Waiting Time Task Force, which is responsible for the governance and oversight of the implementation of WTAP 2026.

Engagement is commencing on the development of the WTAP for 2027, which it is envisaged will encompass a continued focus on reducing waiting times, through service reforms, productivity and efficiency improvements, and enhanced capacity.

The multi-annual Action Plan approach was initiated in September 2021 to sustainably reduce and reform hospital waiting lists and waiting times.

The Government is committed to further reduce waiting times, targeting all patients to be seen within the Sláintecare target of 10 weeks for Outpatient Department (OPD) and 12 weeks for IPDC and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (GI Scopes).

International bodies, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), have emphasised that waiting time is a more important metric than total waiting list numbers in assessing the performance of a health service. Reducing waiting times brings a number of benefits from a patient perspective, including mitigating the risk of conditions worsening and leading to poorer health outcomes, and improving patient satisfaction in care provision.

The Department of Health, the HSE and the NTPF worked closely together to develop the specific actions and targets set out in this year’s Action Plan.

While WTAP 2026 focuses on improving waiting times, changes in waiting list volumes remain an important measure of overall waiting list performance.