Over 900 people with eye problems in Kerry are still waiting ophthalmology outpatient treatments with 78 Kerry people patients waiting for cataract surgery, it has been highlighted.
Figures released to Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae revealed the current waiting list number stands at 903and some are waiting to be seen for well in excess of a year and a half.
“As bad as the high number of patients awaiting treatment, it is worse to think over one third of those on the list are waiting for more than 18 months,” he said.
Deputy Healy-Rae said in recent years, he has helped many Kerry people in facilitated transport for people to travel to Belfast to avail of Cross Border Directive on Healthcare scheme which ensures people get treated.
To qualify for the scheme, those seeking treatment require a referral from their GP and they need to be able to pay upfront and then use the receipts to claim back the money from the HSE.
“I think it is mad that the HSE think it seems to be ok to send people to Belfast to help ease the backlog and while I will still work very hard to ensure anyone that seeks treatment in Belfast will get looked after, the HSE really needs to tackle this issue at a local level and get those waiting lists reduced,” e said.
“It is not right that some people are already waiting a number of years,” Deputy Healy-Rae added.
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