An ambitious plan to radically reduce hospital waiting lists will be launched this morning.
The 2022 Waiting List Action Plan will be unveiled by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and senior health officials.
Over 700,000 people are waiting for an inpatient or outpatient procedure - with over 166,000 waiting over 18 months.
Stephen McMahon, from the Irish Patients Association, says it's unacceptable.
"there are 14 hospitals alone where 50% of their waiting list alone is waiting 12 months just to see a consultant.
"This means that those delays in getting to see the consultant, to get on the conveyor belt to then have their operation can take years, and their lives are at risk, and they can suffer injury as a result of the delays in this access."
