The number of people on waiting lists for an outpatient hospital consultation at the four hospitals in Cork South-Central is equivalent to more than half the local population.
That's according to the latest National Treatment Purchase Fund figures, which show that nationally, 13 per cent of the population are on waiting lists.
The President of the Irish Hospital Consultants Association says that "a patient's access to care should not depend on where they live" and that "the Government needs to address this 'postcode lottery' ".
Tom Douglas has more for RedFM News:
"The latest National Treatment Purchase Fund figures show Cork South-Central has the highest number of outpatients awaiting treatment in the country.
In a statement to RedFM News, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association says that the constituency has 70,862 people on waiting lists - more than 8,000 of those are children.
They are on outpatient waiting lists for the four of the main local hospitals: Cork University Hospital, Cork University Maternity Hospital, the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, and the Mercy University Hospital.
Across Ireland, around one in eight people are on an outpatient waiting list.
According to the January report from the National Treatment Purchase Fund, 20, 937 people across Cork are waiting over 18 months for outpatient appointments.
Tom Douglas , RedFM News"
