Deputy Danny Healy Rae has issued a statement in which he expresses annoyance and frustration at both the HSE and the Irish government at how they’re mistreating people who are boarding buses to Northern Ireland for sight-saving cataract procedures.
“The 165th cataract bus left Callaghan’s yard in Killarney on Friday morning at 6am with people from Kerry going to Kingsbridge Hospital in Derry,” said Deputy Healy Rae.
The bus picked up people in Cork on the way. Ten buses arranged by Deputies Danny Healy Rae and Michael Collins have already gone to Kingsbridge Hospital in Belfast within the last three weeks as the reimbursement from the HSE is being decreased by approx. €800 from this weekend on.
Cut-Off Date on September 1st
“September 1st. is the cut-off date even though this Government does not provide a proper service for people in the Republic of Ireland.
“People in the 26 counties would have to wait up to four years to get their cataract procedure carried out here.
“Even though the Government is boasting that the exchequer was never in a better place financially.
Hitting the Most Vulnerable
“At the same time they are hitting the most vulnerable people who want to save their eyesight.
“The HSE has reduced the three centres in Cork to one centre since July 1st. and they haven’t yet appointed a director to run this new centre in the South Infirmary,” said an angry Deputy Healy Rae.
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