Fianna Fail's Stephen Donnelly says we 'can and must' do better when it comes to waiting times for hospital out-patient appointments.
The party's spokesperson on health has been reacting to new record figures showing half a million people now waiting for their first consultant appointment.
He says in some cases adults and children are waiting years just to see a doctor.
Deputy Donnelly says the National Treatment Purchase Fund could be used to help tackle the problem:
Stephen Donnelly believes the system could be graded via priority needs so no one has to wait longer than six months.
The Fianna Fáil Health Spokesperson says other countries have set maximum waiting times so the idea has been proven to work.
