Over 20,000 patients were removed from hospital waiting lists in the Shannonside region without treatment in 2023.
Figures released by the Minister for Health show that Galway University Hospital had the most amount of patients removed
An analysis carried out by the Irish Hospital Consultants Association shows that 105,000 people were removed from hospital waiting lists last year without treatment through a National Treatment Purchase Fund 'validation' process.
This validation involves hospital administration contacting patients on waiting lists to ensure that they are still available to attend appointments or require their procedure.
According to the IHCA, many patients will have often made alternative arrangements due to the length of time on the waiting list or may no longer be suitable for treatment.
11,642 patients were removed from the outpatient waiting list in Galway University Hospital last year, the most in the region.
This is followed by Sligo University Hospital at 4,392 and Roscommon University Hospital with 1,748.
1,742 patients at Mullingar Regional Hospital were removed from a waiting list without receiving treatment last year.
While in Portiuncula Hospital, 729 patients were removed from the waiting list.
In a statement, the IHCA says that while waiting list times were reduced last year, it could not have been achieved without NTPF validation procedures.
