Mayo plea for government-backed expansion of cataract bus model

A Mayo elected representative is calling for the government to back the expansion of his highly successful priority health bus project, which has dramatically reduced waiting times for critical surgeries.

The initiative, formerly known as the Cataract Bus, has taken over 500 people off Ireland’s chronically long waiting lists, allowing them to receive vital treatments such as cataract surgery, hip replacements, and carpal tunnel surgery in a matter of weeks, not years.

Now, Councillor Paul Lawless is proposing a national solution to this growing health crisis that can not only work but be very cost effective too.

“For many people, these long waiting lists are devastating,” Councillor Lawless said.

“Some patients lose their ability to drive, walk, or even cook for themselves while they wait years for a surgery that could restore their independence in days.

"The Priority Health Bus has been a lifeline to hundreds of people who were in desperate situations, and the impact it has had on their lives is absolutely heart-wrenching.”

Through the cross-border healthcare initiative, patients have been able to access fast-track treatments in Northern Ireland, bypassing the overburdened healthcare system in the Republic.

Councillor Lawless’s tireless negotiations with hospitals in Belfast and Derry have ensured these patients receive both transport and accommodation, making the process seamless and affordable and turning a waiting time in numerous cases from years to weeks.

“Watching people regain their sight, mobility, and independence through this initiative has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” Lawless stated.

“But this can’t just be a one-man operation. We need the government to step in and create a full-time, permanent solution. This is very doable and I am happy to work with politicians in any party and none to achieve this very doable task.”

If elected to Dáil Éireann, Councillor Lawless plans to push for the establishment of government-funded offices in each county, designed to promote this service more extensively to patients, to help patients navigate the cross-border healthcare process and expand access to treatments not just in Northern Ireland, but across Britain, and Europe.

These offices would be staffed full-time to assist with paperwork, booking surgeries, and arranging travel, ultimately helping thousands instead of hundreds more people get the treatments they need.

“I am doing what I can with limited resources and will continue to do so, helping between 500 to 600 people get essential surgeries in a matter of weeks,” he said.

“But with the backing of the government, we could expand this initiative nationwide, in each county ideally, and tackle our waiting list crisis head-on.

"The cost to the state would be minimal compared to the impact on patients’ lives. We can’t afford to let bureaucracy or underfunding stand in the way of people’s health especially when I know how achievable this is.”

Councillor Lawless envisions the first of these offices to be opened in Claremorris, serving as a hub for Mayo and potentially the entire Connacht region as a starting point.

“Claremorris is at the heart of the province, and it’s the perfect place to launch a pilot project that could be rolled out nationwide,” he said.

The Priority Health Bus, which began as the Cataract Bus, has proven its success, particularly when it comes to expedited treatment for cataracts, Carpal Tunnel syndrome, prostate issues, knee and hip replacements and other critical procedures relating to heart and lungs.

Councillor Lawless is determined to see it become a permanent solution for all elective surgeries in Ireland, particularly those that have seen dramatic backlogs in the health system.

“We can solve this waiting list crisis and even without breaking the bank too. There’s only 1 minor component missing and that's the political will in Dáil Éireann. I will change that if elected,” Lawless said.

“What I’ve done alone is difficult, but it’s incredibly worthwhile. With government support, we could change the lives of thousands upon thousands more people and drastically reduce waiting times for surgeries. If elected, I will fight to make this achievable ambition a reality.”