asked the Minister for Health if the waiting period of seven to nine months for people requiring a cataract operation has been reduced; and, if not, if he has any plans in this regard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Eye Operations.
3.
I presume that the Deputy is referring to the position at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital about which he had a question answered on 2nd May last.
The non-urgent cases mentioned in that reply had a waiting period of seven to nine months measured from the time they were booked as needing an operation, and including some time when the patient was not medically ready for an operation.
There has been a disimprovement in the position since then due, I am informed, mainly to the junior hospital doctors dispute. The comparable waiting time is now eight to ten months. This disimprovement would I expect be a temporary one only.
More urgent cases, as mentioned before, are placed on a special waiting list for admission within a relatively short period.
The provision of a separate ophthalmic unit at Sligo General Hospital which will be fully operational next month, should relieve pressure on the Royal Victoria Hospital arising from the North Western area. Similarly a development of the opthalmic unit at Ardkeen General Hospital, Waterford, recently agreed to, should help as regards the area served by that hospital.