Thousands of operations and procedures cancelled in the South East due to overcrowding crisis

Thousands of operations and procedures have been cancelled across the South East due to overcrowded hospitals.

More than 50,000 events were cancelled in the first three months of the year and this figure could reach more than 100,000 people by July 2024.

HSE figures show hospitals in the east and south of the country have been worst hit, amid an overcrowding crisis.

Dublin Midlands Hospital Group leads the way with almost 10,000 cancellations from January to March, followed by Ireland East Hospital Group.

In the first three months of this year, Ireland East Hospital Group recorded more than 17,000 cancellations.

The group includes University Hospital Waterford, St Luke’s General Hospital Carlow-Kilkenny, University Hospital Tipperary and Wexford General Hospital.

Stephen McMahon of the Irish Patients’ Association believes the problem could be much worse by this stage of the year.

“Within six months, there could be more than 100,000 people whose operations have been cancelled.

“The Taoiseach had a score to settle with Taylor Swift at the weekend, but I have a score to settle with him and I invite him to discussions.

“Behind all the wonderful applause and festivities of the weekend lies an urgent problem: 50,000 to 100,000 cancelled operations and procedures, which require immediate government action.

“One way to control overcrowding in the emergency room is to cancel these elective operations so that the bed is free for someone who needs it.

“Private hospital patients are not experiencing the cancellation of their operations. This is a huge inequality in our healthcare system and it needs to be addressed.”