Cataract waiting lists continue to grow as the Government is accused of turning a blind eye to people in need – so claims Deputy Michael Healy Rae based on information he received from a Dáil Éireann question he put to Minister for Health Steven Donnelly.
“Despite the promise of more money and better policy making by the Government through the 2022 Waiting List Action Plan, waiting lists continue to grow for Kerry people who are seeking cataract surgery and ophthalmology care,” said Deputy Healy Rae who pioneered the ‘Bus to Belfast’ campaign for cataract surgery in Northern Ireland some five years ago.
People in Dire Need
“This Government has totally turned a blind eye to the people who are in dire need and despite facilitating a bus trip every six to eight weeks we are making no real difference when it comes to tackling the waiting list despite making a real difference for each individual patient. It is about time that the Minster for Health opens his own eyes to see that there is a way to help people if they even make it better known to people that they can receive cataract surgery in Northern Ireland.
“Of course, we should be looking at our own house first to help the situation but until such time that we catch up, Government needs to be more flexible in helping people get treatment.
Going North for Treatment
“If that means heading to Northern Ireland, than so be in” Deputy Michael Healy Rae continued.
Figures revealed to Deputy Michael Healy Rae show that 837 people from Kerry are waiting for Ophthalmology outpatients (as of the 26th January 2023) with a further 123 waiting for cataract surgery.
“I have been asking the Government for years to look into this with no luck, so I’ve continued to take buses up to Belfast with the past five years.
It is a fright that we have to facilitate a bus in the first place but as long as it continues to help people, we will continue the services and appeal to people to let more people in need know about it” Deputy Michael Healy Rae concluded
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