Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Oct 1995

Vol. 456 No. 6

Written Answers. - Eye Testing Service.

Séamus Hughes

Question:

86 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health, arising from the reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 85, 86 and 87 of 20 September 1995, whether the information with regard to funding is now available for each health board area. [14537/95]

Séamus Hughes

Question:

87 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the effects anticipated in each of the health board areas in view of the distribution of the additional funds to health boards to reduce the average waiting time for eye testing and spectacles announced during national eye care week. [14538/95]

Séamus Hughes

Question:

88 Mr. Hughes asked the Minister for Health the reason the majority of health boards do not operate the choice of optician scheme for medical card holders; and the action, if any, being taken to reduce excessive waiting times and the uneven availability of service throughout the country. [14539/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 to 88, inclusive, together.

The provision of eye testing services for eligible adults is a matter for each health board in the first instance. Eye testing services for eligible adults may be provided by health boards through their own community ophthalmic services or through the adult sight testing scheme under which private ophthalmic practitioners have contract arrangements with the boards.

Each health board has the discretion to determine whether and to what extent it will avail of the adult sight testing scheme. A number of health boards, having regard to the resources available and other considerations, prefer to provide sight testing services through community ophthalmic physicians employed by the boards. In addition, where the adult sight testing scheme is in operation, eligible persons may, with certain constraints, be given the choice of using this scheme or using the health board community ophthalmic services.

The funding made available to health boards on an annual basis by my Department does not contain a specific allocation in respect of the adult sight testing scheme. Annual expenditure on the scheme is a matter for each health board.

I expect that the additional £750,000 made available this year to health boards for the provision of a sight testing service to adults will result in services being provided in the coming months to an additional 15,000 persons from the waiting lists and substantial reductions in waiting periods for those remaining on the waiting lists. The funding was allocated on the basis of priority needs as identified by the health boards.

The following is the amount allocated to each board:

Eastern Health Board	£250,000
Midland Health Board	£30,000
Mid-Western Health Board	£50,000
North-Eastern Health Board	£85,000
North-Western Health Board	£75,000
South-Eastern Health Board	£75,000
Southern Health Board	£85,000
Western Health Board	£100,000
Total	£750,000

My Department has commenced discussions with health boards on a range of issues relating to the provision of eye testing services to adults including the most cost effective use of resources, the use of the adult sight testing scheme and equity in the provision of services. Progress in reducing the waiting lists will be monitored and the needs of the service for 1996 will be considered as part of these discussions.