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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Nov 1995

Vol. 458 No. 5

Written Answers. - Health Board Waiting List.

Colm M. Hilliard

Question:

86 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the serious problem within the North Eastern Health Board in County Meath, whereby many medical card holders must wait approximately two years for sight test appointments; if he will encourage the health board to quickly develop the choice of optician scheme in view of the fact that this would help cut back the waiting list. [17341/95]

Limerick East): The provision of ophthalmic services for eligible persons in the Meath area is the statutory responsibility of the North-Eastern Health Board. In the provision of services the North-Eastern Health Board gives priority to applicants with special needs such as persons with certain medical conditions, and every effort is made to ensure that urgent cases are processed without delay.

I am concerned with any undue delay in the provision of sight testing and spectacles. Accordingly, I made available an additional £95,000 this year to the North-Eastern Health Board for the provision of sight testing services to adults on their waiting lists. I understand that the board has allocated £38,000 of this money to the Meath area to carry out sight testing and supply spectacles to those on their waiting lists. The health board expects that this additional allocation will have a considerable impact on the waiting list in the Meath area.

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