Viewers Were Outraged At RTÉ’s Harrowing ‘Living On The List’ Last Night

James Fenton

Anger. Shock. Disbelief.

Yesterday we informed you that RTÉ would be airing a documentary focusing on Irish hospital waiting lists the patients whose lives are affected.

Living On The List depicted the agony that patients are going through in their everyday lives and their wait for lifesaving operations and procedures. Anyone who watched it will agree that it was fairly upsetting viewing.

Depicting the relentless physical pain of adults and children alike, some of the content was fairly shocking and it was revealed that some patients have even contemplated suicide as a means of easing their pain.

If you didn’t manage to catch the documentary, some of the harrowing footage can be viewed below:

Living on the List: Patricia Connolly “If I could get one Christmas wish it would be to not be sore”. #RTEInvestigates pic.twitter.com/UVi1IQwiVV

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 6, 2017

Living on the List: As time drags on the experience on a waiting list can have a profound impact on patients #RTEInvestigates pic.twitter.com/i59r9PiUFz

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 6, 2017

Living on the List: Megan has a curved spine and the pain is causing her to miss school #RTEInvestigates pic.twitter.com/YYt35jHLDr

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 6, 2017

Living on the List: Alan is waiting to have a brain tumor removed and his last appointment was in November last year #RTEInvestigates pic.twitter.com/5TprKrt374

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 6, 2017

Of course, viewers of the programme were left in disbelief and a number took to Twitter to express their shock:

#RTEInvestigates: Living on the List. What a shame. What a disgrace. What are the politicians now prepared to do.

— Denis Rohan (@DenisRohan) February 6, 2017

My heart hurts after watching Living on the List.

— Jessica Dunne (@JessDunne91) February 6, 2017

I’m crying watching “Living on the List” @RTEOne . These poor children. Made to wait, their conditions get much worse #RTEInvestigates

— Niall Morris (@NiallwMorris) February 6, 2017

All politicians or potential politicians should watch living on the List tonight. (Shameful) Find an answer Or get out of politics .

— James Keogh (@jimkeogh1) February 6, 2017

After Living On The List aired, some of the patients featured on the show appeared on Claire Byrne Live to discuss their suffering further:

“It’s not a life, it’s an existence” – on Claire Byrne Live we hear from some patients seen in RTÉ Investigates Living on the List #CBLive pic.twitter.com/MIoFluvpwP

— RTÉ ClaireByrneLive (@ClaireByrneLive) February 6, 2017

Health Minister Simon Harris later appeared in a pre-recorded interview with Claire where he declared himself ‘ashamed’ and heartbroken’ by what he had seen:

“I feel ashamed. I feel heartbroken” Minister for Health Simon Harris reacts to RTÉ Investigates Living on the List https://t.co/CvhkMuxc5m

— RTÉ ClaireByrneLive (@ClaireByrneLive) February 6, 2017

If you didn’t manage to watch Living On The List you can watch the full programme on RTÉ Player here. If you did manage to see it, how did it make you feel and what do you think can be done about the issue of hospital waiting lists? Let us know in the comments.

(header pic credit: RTÉ)

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