How many people are waiting for hospital care in Ireland?
Why are waiting lists still so high?
Official updates point to continued growth in demand and referrals. More people are entering the healthcare system, while hospitals are also managing emergency care, seasonal pressures and a high volume of scheduled treatment.
The Department of Health has said that hospital activity has increased, but the additional demand has made it difficult to achieve consistent reductions across all waiting-list categories.
Have waiting times improved at all?
Yes. The June 2026 government update reported that the number of patients waiting for more than 12 months had fallen by approximately 50%, or around 141,000 people, since September 2021.
Over the same period, the weighted average waiting time was reported to have improved by approximately 44%, equivalent to around 5.3 months.
What are the official waiting-time targets?
The Sláintecare targets referred to by the Department of Health aim for patients to be seen within 10 weeks for an outpatient appointment and within 12 weeks for inpatient, day-case and gastrointestinal endoscopy care.
These are national targets rather than guaranteed appointment times for every individual patient.
Can Irish patients consider treatment in another EU country?
Depending on the treatment and the patient’s circumstances, some people may explore healthcare in another EU country under the HSE EU Cross Border Directive.
Eligibility, referral requirements and reimbursement limits must be checked before treatment is arranged. Reimbursement is assessed individually by the HSE and should never be assumed to be automatic.
Frequently asked questions
Is almost one million people waiting for hospital care?
RTÉ reported 943,011 people on some form of public hospital waiting list in February 2026. This figure includes different categories of care and should not be interpreted as one single queue for surgery.
Does everyone wait more than one year?
No. Waiting periods vary considerably according to the hospital, specialty, clinical priority and type of appointment or procedure.
Which waiting-list figures are most important?
Total numbers provide useful context, but the length of time patients wait is also important. A smaller number of very long waits can represent improvement even when overall demand remains high.
Will these figures remain current?
No. Hospital waiting-list data is updated regularly. This article records figures available in 2026 and readers should check the latest Department of Health and NTPF publications.
Sources
This article is an independent summary based on publicly available information. It is not an official HSE or government publication.
Department of Health — Monthly waiting list figures, June 2026 RTÉ News — Almost one million people on public hospital waiting lists Department of Health — Waiting Time Action Plan 2026Information correct to the best of our knowledge on 26 July 2026. Waiting-list totals, eligibility rules and healthcare pathways may change. Patients should verify current information with the HSE, their referring clinician or the relevant public authority.
