Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
306. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the number of people with an address in County Kerry that are waiting for an outpatient appointment for cataracts; the number waiting for cataracts removal; the number that have availed of the cross-border scheme for cataract removal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49107/23]
View answerIt is recognised that waiting times for many scheduled appointments and procedures were too long before and have been made worse by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department of Health continues to work with the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) to identify ways to improve access to care.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, the attached information, provided to my Department by the NTPF sets out the number of persons with an area of residence in County Kerry waiting on the Ophthalmology Outpatient waiting list, and the number on the Inpatient/Daycase waiting list for cataract surgery at the end of September.
With regard to the number of people from County Kerry who availed of the cross border scheme for cataract surgery, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
As the Deputy may be aware, management and administrative grade staff in the Fórsa union in the HSE commenced industrial action on Friday 6th October. As a consequence of this industrial action, members in these grades are not engaging with political forums or processes. As a result, the question asked by the Deputy may be delayed in receiving a response directly from the HSE.
