Welcome for additional dermatological capacity at Tullamore hospital

Independent TD Carol Nolan has welcomed confirmation that additional consultant dermatology capacity is being introduced at Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, while also warning that patients cannot continue to endure waiting times of almost two years for an outpatient appointment.

Deputy Nolan received confirmation following parliamentary questions on the matter. The replies confirm that the hospital currently operates with just 0.24 Whole-Time Equivalent (WTE) Consultant Dermatologist capacity which equates to a consultant service being available for only one day per week.

A further 0.24 WTE Consultant Dermatologist allocation has now been approved and is expected to come on stream before the end of this month, September 2026.

Commenting on the issue, Deputy Nolan said: "While I warmly welcome the approval of additional consultant dermatology capacity for Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore, it is important that people understand the scale of the challenge. The current allocation of 0.24 WTE effectively means that dermatology services are available for just one day each week. Even with the additional allocation, the service will still be operating at less than half of a full-time consultant post."

Deputy Nolan raised the matter after representing a patient who had been advised that they faced an estimated waiting time of approximately 103 weeks for a dermatology outpatient appointment:

"A waiting time of almost two years is simply unacceptable. Skin conditions can have a significant impact on a person's quality of life and, in some cases, delays in assessment can lead to more serious health consequences. Patients deserve timely access to specialist care."

The hospital has advised that current waiting times are primarily the result of capacity and demand pressures, with existing consultant resources insufficient to cope with referral numbers. The HSE has also confirmed that additional outpatient and procedural clinic space has been identified to support the increased consultant activity.

Deputy Nolan said that the additional allocation represents progress but must be viewed as only a first step: "The approval of an additional consultant allocation is positive news and should help improve access to services. However, when demand has resulted in waiting times extending beyond 100 weeks, it is clear that a longer-term strategy will be required to ensure patients across Offaly and the wider Midlands region can access dermatology services in a reasonable timeframe."

The HSE Dublin and Midlands Region is currently reviewing dermatology service provision across the region to identify opportunities to improve service delivery and patient access.

"I will continue to engage with both the HSE and the Department of Health to ensure that every possible measure is taken to reduce these waiting lists and secure the resources needed to provide an adequate dermatology service for people in Offaly and the Midlands,” Deputy Nolan concluded,