Almost half of Irish patients have been waiting more than three months for a colonoscopy.
This is despite the target set out by the HSE to ensure 70% of sufferers are seen within three months.
The health service has been slammed for the long wait times for the routine procedure which could lead to delayed cancer diagnoses.
Irish Cancer Society chief Donal Buggy said: “It is shocking nearly half of people waiting for a colonoscopy have been doing so for over three months.
“Some will go on to have a cancer diagnosis. It is important people are diagnosed early to make sure they have the best chance of survival.”
A shocking 5,731 people had been waiting for longer than three months for a routine colonoscopy at the end of March this year.
A colonoscopy is the examination of the lining of the large bowel.
It is performed using a thin flexible tube with a camera and a light on the tip which is used to look at the area.
Mr Buggy added: “At the moment we are running to stand still. The number of people being referred for colonoscopies is growing every year and urgent action must be taken to drastically reduce waiting times.
“The Government has to provide adequate funding for a strategic endoscopy plan, greater investment in workforce planning to deal with growing demand and hospitals must find more capacity to deal with waiting lists in their network.”
Mr Buggy added while efforts have been made by the Department of Health and the HSE to tackle wait times, progress has been slow.
Irish Government to consider making vaccination for kids mandatory
A spokesman for the HSE said the target is four weeks for patients who are classified as urgent, where there is a risk of cancer.
He added: “The Bowelscreen Programme offers screening and where there is a positive test, arrangements are made for patients to be seen within 20 days. In most cases this target is achieved and any breaches are typically seen within a few days.
“For routine patients, the target is 13 weeks and we are aiming to achieve 70% compliance with this target. Current compliance is 57% due to capacity constraints services.”
