Vol. 465 No. 6
128 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the long waiting list for appointments at the Eye Clinic at University College Hospital, Galway; if so, the action, if any, he proposes to take to improve the situation for patients who have been waiting up to two years for appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10436/96]
Limerick East): The eye clinic at University College Hospital, Galway has two ophthalmic consultants. These consultants saw a total of 7,776 outpatients in 1995. The current number of patients on the waiting is 766, of whom 54 have been waiting over 12 months. A total of five patients have been waiting over two years.
I have approved the appointment of a third ophthalmic surgeon and this post is expected to be taken up later this year. I am confident that this will alleviate the current waiting times for outpatients at the clinic.
