More than 850 people were told this week by two Galway hospitals that all outpatient rheumatology clinics for July and August had been cancelled, Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary told the Dáil.

He said University College Hospital and Merlin Park University Hospital had said emergency outpatient appointments would be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Already, he added, 1,500 people were on waiting lists at Merlin Park for outpatient rheumatology appointments.

“When a person is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, there is a 12-week window within which there is a chance of dealing with the condition if he or she gets treatment,” Mr Calleary added. “If it goes longer, perhaps to 2½ years, which is the length of time people are spending on the waiting list at the moment, the patient’s chance of beating that condition are severely restricted.”

Mr Calleary asked if it was acceptable that a consultant had gone on maternity leave this week and would not be replaced until September, demonstrating a lack of planning. “Is it acceptable that the appointment of a new rheumatology consultant to Manorhamilton, which was promised by the Taoiseach in December, still has not taken place ?” he asked.

“Is it acceptable that a consultant attached to Beaumont, one of our key hospitals, would tell a patient, as has happened this week, that he or she would be better off having urgent surgery at a private hospital because at Beaumont the wait would be 14 weeks ?”

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Alex White, who was taking Opposition Leaders' Questions on the Government's behalf, said the HSE had advised that because of consultant staff shortages, a number of rheumatology outpatient clinics in Galway University Hospital were being postponed. New appointments would be scheduled as soon as possible and urgent patients would continue to be seen. Clinics in Manorhamilton would continue as normal, he added.

Mr White said there were currently three consultants covering outpatient clinics and an emergency intake and consult service in Galway University Hospital, as well as a day ward service in Merlin Park.

From October 1st, he added, there would be four consultant rheumatologists at Galway University Hospital. “When extra medical staff are in place, the extra outpatient clinics will have to be held and will be held,” Mr White said.