Sir, – You report (News, February 22nd) that the HSE aims to cut "unacceptable" waiting times. The maximum time an outpatient will have to wait to be assessed by a hospital consultant will be cut to 18 months.
Those requiring surgery will have to wait up to another year for their procedure.
When GPs refer their elderly patients to hospital for procedures such as hip or knee replacement surgery, these patients are in chronic pain, with both limited mobility and quality of life.
Is 2½ years for the resolution of their suffering really “acceptable”? – Yours, etc,
READ SOME MORE
REGGIE SPELMAN,
Health Centre,
Bridgetown,
Co Wexford.