(August 14th 2024)听There was a 12% reduction in waiting lists at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) during 2023, according to figures in their 2023 annual report published today.听The report has also revealed that 84% of patients were waiting three months or less for surgery.听This听is a significant achievement considering the increased activity levels and demands on hospital services during 2023.听
One of the best indicators of the growth in the听Hospital's听workload can听be seen听by听looking at听the number of patients who attended the Emergency Department (ED) at TUH听during听2023.听For听the first time last year听over听55,000 attended the ED.听On听average听it took 32 minutes for patients to听be triaged听on arrival听and听most were seen by a doctor within four hours and 29 minutes.听
This annual report is a special one for the Hospital as it听marks an important milestone in the听lifetime of the听organisation听鈥� the 25th anniversary of its opening. The document outlines the incredible efforts听that听were听put听in听by the TUH 25 Committee听who听successfully organised a myriad听of celebrations that included their colleagues and听families, patients and community. Their efforts听resulted in some incredible events during the year听and have left the Hospital with听a rich听repository of听memories from our community and听staff that will be听great reminders听in听the future of our history.
Looking听ahead听TUH CEO Lucy Nugent said,听鈥淥ur focus remains on听the implementation of听our strategy and expanding听our services as much as we can, given our footprint. Thanks to听the work听undertaken by the Facilities Team,听we increased our onsite capacity for endoscopies. The听additional rooms will听see an acceleration in听the听reduction on this waiting list in 2024.听Incredible efforts were made by teams across the听system to听reduce听waiting times for outpatient听appointments, this听has resulted in a 12% reduction听in our waiting lists.听There is still more work to听be听done听in this area听but听we听are hopeful听as more听space听becomes available in the Hospital as听paediatric听services move听out听we will be able to expand the听number of clinics we can offer, further reducing听waiting times for patients.鈥�
The Hospital performed over 10,000 surgeries last year with over 262,000 outpatient appointments. The annual report says听while COVID-19听itself had less听of an听influence on admissions, the pandemic did cause an abnormal level of growth in all clinical departments. One possible explanation听for this could be that patients delayed seeking treatment during the lockdowns.
For the vast majority of the year听the听Hospital was at 100% occupancy.听It听is accepted听that operating above 85% has a significant and material impact on patient flow听and听this reinforces听the urgent need for additional beds.
There was also a significant increase in the number of patients over 75 presenting at the听Hospital鈥檚听ED听which听put added pressure on the system as these patients have more complex needs and often required admission to the Hospital.听
Launching the annual report,听The Chair of the TUH Board, Trinity Professor Anne-Marie听Brady听谤别蹿濒别肠迟别诲听迟丑补迟,听鈥�Activity levels听continued to increase at the Hospital with a sharp increase in urgent听and emergency care. I appreciate the challenges听this presents for patients and staff听as听they try to find space for these patients to receive their听treatment and听at听the same听time听reduce the growth听in waiting lists for scheduled care. It is to听everyone鈥檚听credit that despite the pressure from unplanned听activity听the inpatient waiting lists听only grew by 56 in the year. Until the Hospital gets听additional bed capacity听the听ability听to materially听improve the inpatients waiting lists听will be limited.鈥�
The ED saw a 37% rise increase in patients waiting to be admitted to a ward at 8am, although on a positive note, there was a notable improvement in trolley figures in the second quarter of the year.听
