Hospital waiting lists have increased by over 11,460 to 614,620 according to the latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund.

These are the figures to the end of February and compare with a total of 603,152 patients at the end of January.

Waiting lists in February were up for inpatient, day case treatment, gastrointestinal checks, outpatient appointments and in other areas.

Today's figures include details of two waiting lists, which were previously unpublished, until RTÉ Investigates recently revealed their existence.

Both of these lists are up slightly.

These two lists mostly relate to people scheduled to have their treatment within six weeks and people with indicative dates, or awaiting an annual check.

A breakdown of the total 614,620 patients waiting nationally shows there are now:

454,487 people waiting to be seen by a consultant at an outpatient clinic for the first time, up from 445,701 in January.

83,803 people waiting for inpatient, or day case treatment in hospital, up from 82,005 in January.

38,972 have indicative dates, which include planned annual checks, up on the January figure of 38,817.

19,640 people are expected to have their treatment within six weeks, up on the January figure of 19,188.

17,718 waiting for a gastrointestinal endoscopy, up from 17,441 in January.

Dr Emmet Kerins, President of the National Association of GPs, described the size of waiting lists as a scandal.

He said that lists would continue to rise and that there had been a lot of political rhetoric but not much had changed.

Dr Kerins said it was a damning indictment of the Government and the civil service that allowed the situation to continue.

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said that the aim is to have no patient waiting more than 15 months by the end of October.