Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 18 May 1994

Vol. 442 No. 9

Ceisteanna — Questions Written Answers. - Ophthalmic Waiting Lists.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

38 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Health the reason for delays of up to 14 months on waiting lists for public eye treatment, including critical cases, by eye specialists when a person who changes to private treatment can be seen directly as instanced by a person (details supplied) in County Dublin.

Minister for Health (Mr. Howlin)

Ophthalmology services are provided in the major general hospitals in Dublin and throughout the country. Waiting times for routine ophthalmic out-patient appointments vary from hospital to hospital. Waiting lists are a feature of all health systems and this will continue, given the infinite demands which continue to be made on finite resources. However, urgent cases are given an immediate appointment.

Under the waiting list initiative 1993, ophthalmology was one of the specialties specifically targeted. Approximately 3,500 additional ophthalmology procedures were performed in 1993. Under the 1994 waiting list initiative, ophthalmology is again being targeted to reduce the waiting time for ophthalmology services.

Public patients attend public out-patient clinics and do not incur consultants' fees. Patients may opt to attend the consultant in a private capacity. Private out-patient services are arranged by the consultant concerned outside of his public commitment under the common contract.