Vol. 475 No. 7
54 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Health the total number of patients on the waiting list to attend the ophthalmology out-patients clinic at the Mater Hospital, Dublin 7; the average length of time on the waiting list before a patient is seen; the number of patients on the inpatient ophthalmology list; and the average length of time between the out-patient appointment and admission to hospital. [5627/97]
Limerick East): There are 1,065 patients on the Mater Hospital's out-patient ophthalmology waiting list. Referral letters for out-patient ophthalmology appointments are screened by the hospital's consultant ophthalmologists and appointments are scheduled on the basis of the medical condition of the patient. I understand from the Mater Hospital that urgent cases may be seen almost immediately whereas routine cases may have to wait up to five months.
There are 243 patients on the Mater Hospital's in-patient ophthalmology waiting list. After a patient is seen in the ophthalmology out-patient clinic the average waiting time for admission to the hospital is nine months.
