ALMOST DOUBLE the amount of Clare people are awaiting treatment for cataracts since 2021.

New figures released by the HSE reveal that the Inpatient/Day Case (IPDC) Waiting List for the county has almost doubled.

99 people in Clare were awaiting routine non-urgent, semi-urgent and urgent cataract procedures in May 2021 compared to 188 patients awaiting similar treatment at the end of January 2023. 53 people were waiting up to 12 months for a procedure.

Urgent investment is ophthalmology services in the Mid-West is required to address the growing waiting list for cataract procedures, Clare TD Michael McNamara (IND) has said. “A stand-alone high-volume consultant-led cataract theatre was opened by the UL Hospital Group in Nenagh Hospital in 2018, with the intention that it would facilitate patients from Clare to avail of their treatment there. It is clear however, that the impact this initiative has not resulted in the desired reduction in the waiting times to access cataract procedures. In fact, waiting lists have continued to worse since the middle of 2021”.

He added, “The ongoing capacity issues at UHL and consequent cancellation of IPDC surgical procedures at Model 2 Hospitals such as Nenagh and Ennis is continuing to have significant, negative knock-on consequences for people awaiting other urgent procedures. The Government this month announced €363m for the 2023 Waiting List Action Plan, which it says will reduce hospital waiting lists by 10% in 2023. While this is welcome, it does not go near far enough in addressing lengthy cataract patient waiting lists, which I fear will only grow further without extra intervention.”

Deputy McNamara said the Department of Heath must step up its engagement with and support for the HSE and the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) regarding growing waiting lists. “The key to reducing the backlog lies with the allocation of funding towards weekend and evening work in public hospitals, the increased use of private hospitals, and more significantly, increasing capacity in the public hospital system,” he added. “Without such critical interventions we will continue to see waiting lists grow in this county, as well as in Limerick and Tipperary where there are 381 and 265 people respectively on cataract surgery waiting lists”.

Related News

burren stone walls 1
Two-day event celebrates tradition dry stone walling which has shaped The Burren
clare gaa convention 12-12-19 18 niall gilligan
All-Ireland winner Gilligan pleads not guilty to assault of boy with a stick
murt mcinerney 2
'He is a huge loss to Doonbeg, West Clare & his family' - councillors adjourn July meeting in respect to Murt McInerney
connolly 1
Connolly development for community building gets green light

Advertisement

Latest News
connolly 1
Connolly development for community building gets green light
teresa roseingrave 1
Roseingrave resigns as Clare LGFA Chair with McMahon & Shannon also stepping down from Executive
ladies football trophy 1
Munster LGFA intervene to postpone adjourned Clare LGFA meeting
ronan collins 1-2
Ronan Collins recalls Clare show band scene ahead of Scariff Harbour Festival performance
valentines card 1
Five year Safety Order granted to Clare woman after Valentines Day card arrives from Limerick prison inmate
Premium
valentines card 1
Five year Safety Order granted to Clare woman after Valentines Day card arrives from Limerick prison inmate
1 DSC_2001
Next step for Clare camogie is returning to quarter-finals says Carmody
clare lgfa football 1
Adjourned Clare LGFA meeting to go ahead after breach of confidential correspondence investigated
clare v limerick 02-03-25 brian lohan 1
Lohan: early indicators positive on all experienced Clare players returning & wide net will be cast during club campaign
knockanean school
Council take wide berth on request to widen road leading to Knockanean NS

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement