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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 8 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 1

Written Answers. - Ophthalmic Services.

Dinny McGinley

Ceist:

247 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the delays being experienced by people who are awaiting ophthalmic services in County Donegal; and if he will appoint extra opticians to reduce the numbers on the waiting list. [26626/98]

The provision of ophthalmic services in County Donegal is the statutory responsibility of the North-Western Health Board. I have been informed by the board that on 1 January 1998 there were 1,995 adults and 1,100 children on the waiting list for ophthalmic services in County Donegal. The board undertook a combination of measures to tackle these waiting lists such as the provision of additional community ophthalmic physician sessions and the use of the services of private optometrists for adult sight-testing. These measures were assisted by the grant of £89,000 which I made to the board at the end of last year specifically for use in reducing waiting lists for ophthalmic services. As a result of these measures, by 15 November last, the number of adults on the waiting list had been reduced from 1,995 to 942 and the number of children had been reduced from 1,100 to 978. These reductions were achieved despite the increased demand for ophthalmic services.

I understand that one of the difficulties which the North-Western Health Board experienced over the last year in its ophthalmic service was the fact that a vacancy for a whole time community ophthalmic optician in Donegal existed in the early part of 1998 and that it took some time to recruit a temporary replacement. The board is now awaiting a recommendation for a permanent appointment from the Local Appointments Commission. After the permanent appointment has been made, the board intends to retain the services of the temporary community ophthalmic optician for a time in order to reduce further the childrens' waiting list.

In early 1998, a working group of representatives of the health boards and the Association of Optometrists Ireland was established to discuss the provision of an adult sight-testing scheme which would replace the existing ad hoc schemes and which would be similar in its application in each health board. I understand that discussions are at an advanced stage for a scheme for provision of primary eye examinations and spectacles to eligible adults by private optometrists. I have made available the sum of £123,000 to the North-Western Health Board, in addition to its ongoing funding for ophthalmic services, for the implementation of this scheme in its functional area in 1999.

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