Some 560,251 people were on a waiting list for their first hospital outpatient consultation at the end of June.

That is according to new figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF).

They also show that 69,671 patients were waiting for an appointment for their inpatient or day case treatment, while 22,758 were waiting to receive an appointment for a GI Endoscopy.

The Irish Hospital Consultants Association (IHCA) has said it is "extremely concerned" at the figures.

Dr Donal O'Hanlon is IHCA president.

He said based on this new data, there were a record number of people waiting for a hospital outpatient appointment at the end of last month.

"This is an increase of 48,836 patients (9.5%) since this time last year and an increase of 3,840 in a month.

"The number waiting over 12 months for an outpatient appointment increased by 21,000 since the start of 2019.

"In the past five years the numbers waiting have increased by 212,566 (61%).

"The increase has occurred at a time when there are around 500 permanent consultant posts that cannot be filled because of the Government's inaction.

He added: "The inpatients waiting are also unacceptable at 69,671, up 55% in seven years."

He said issues are preventing the filling of one in five permanent consultant posts.