Young Mayo patients left waiting year for eye care appointments

Young babies and adolescents in Mayo are waiting up to a year for ophthalmology appointments, according to most recent figures.

Aontú Councillor Paul Lawless , a candidate for Mayo in the upcoming general election said the figures were made available following a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health from his party leader, Deputy Peadar Tóibín.

A total 256 young people, including new babies and small children up to four years of age, are included in the figures released by the Department of Health.

Councillor Lawless stated: “Young people’s eyesight is deteriorating while they’re waiting to be seen, and this is totally unacceptable.

"We know that there is a severe shortage of ophthalmologists in this country, and this is having severe consequences on patients.

" I have taken hundreds upon hundreds of older people across the border to the north for cataract surgery over the years so I know only too well how untreated eye conditions can affect people so much”

“We have fabulous optometrists and unlike our counterparts in other European countries, we don’t utilise their services as much as we perhaps could.

"These people are highly professional, well trained and well equipped practitioners and we know that there are eye procedures they could be taking on which would help alleviate pressure on waiting lists”.

“Optometry Ireland has previously stated that it would like if its members were utilised more and called on the HSE to consider it.

“It makes huge common sense all round. These professionals are already in situ and would provide a far more accessible and cost-effective service for patients”.