Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 October 2021
743. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the level of ophthalmic service is in accordance with best health practice for the community of north County Donegal, where many of the patients are over 200 kilometres from Sligo Hospital. [50494/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe HSE Primary Care Eye Services Review Group (PCESRG) Report was launched in June 2017. The Report sets out current levels of service, models of service provision and the consultation process undertaken with patients, advocates, ophthalmic staff and representative bodies. It also highlights the limitations of the current model of service delivery and sets out the way forward for a significant amount of eye services to be delivered in a primary care setting. The Report estimates that 60% of existing outpatient activity could be moved to primary care thus enabling hospital services to focus on patients who require more specialist diagnostics or treatments.
The National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology has developed a model of care which details how the realignment of eye services from the acute hospitals to the community will be undertaken. The recommendations from the PCESRG Report also complement the Model of Care.
The PCESRG Report remains current and the temporary arrangements currently required for processing of some ophthalmic patients from Donegal in Sligo Hospital are not aligned with the long-term objectives outlined therein. The HSE has advised that work is currently underway to increase the capacity of ophthalmic services in Donegal.
The HSE is implementing a number of measures under the PCESRG Report. Included in current priorities is transferring the care of children aged 8+ years to the care of local private optometrists, creating a new role of Consultant Medical Ophthalmologist, and recruiting additional Consultant Medical Ophthalmologists to other CHOs.
