New figures published this evening show a rise in national public hospital waiting lists, which now stand at over 823,600 patients waiting.
It represents an increase of over 11,100 patients on the December figures.
The number of patients waiting to be seen for the first time by a consultant, at an outpatient clinic has risen to 589,670.
The official figures for January are from the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
There are over 83,400 patients waiting for a date for an inpatient, or day case operation.
The national figures exclude over 54,000 patients 'suspended' from waiting lists for clinical or other reasons.
The figures also take into account the recent validation of waiting lists by hospitals and are also affected by record hospital overcrowding in January, which resulted in cancelled planned operations.
