Over 5,300 on North West hospital waiting lists

It's emerged that there are over 5,300 people awaiting inpatients services at hospitals across the North West.

The figures, correct to the end of last month, were released by the National Treatment Purchase Fund last Friday.

The report tallied 3,017 people on the waiting list in Sligo University Hospital, while 2,305 people awaited treatment in Letterkenny University Hospital.

Leitrim Councillor and member of the Regional Health Forum Paddy Farrell has cited issues in recruitment and the rising population as major factors for the waiting lists: