asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that eye, ear, nose and throat treatment is not available to hospital services card holders in the Southern Health Board area; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Southern Health Board Eye/Ear Treatment.
22.
The provision of eye and ear, nose and throat services is the responsibility of the Southern Health Board.
In-patient eye and ear, nose and throat services are available free of charge to all hospital service card holders on the same basis as other in-patient services. Under the Health Act, 1970, out-patient services are defined as excluding dental, ophthalmic or aural services and health boards are required to make dental, ophthalmic and aural treatment and appliances available without charge only to medical card holders and to children referred from child health examinations.
The legal provisions concerning dental, ophthalmic and aural services have been interpreted in some areas as meaning that hospital service card holders are liable to pay consultant fees for all out-patient ophthalmic and aural services. In most of the country however, ophthalmic and aural services under the Health Act, 1970, are considered to refer to sight testing and screening for eye and ear defects only. Thus consultants in these areas do not charge hospital service card holders for out-patient treatment of medical conditions relating to the eyes and ears. I am aware that in Cork hospital service card holders are charged for out-patient ENT services. I consider that the differentiation under the Health Act, 1970, between ophthalmic and aural out-patient services and other specialist services is an anomaly which I am arranging to have reviewed.