Thousands of Tipperary children and the vulnerable left waiting for ophthalmology service

Deputy Healy calls on Government to address the issue

Tipperary TD Seamus Healy has called on the Government to state when the Community Ophthalmology services will resume in Tipperary.

Independent TD Seamus Healy said thousands of children and vulnerable patients were left waiting and waiting lists were mounting.

"I want to raise again the fact that the people of south Tipperary have had no ophthalmology service - no eye service - for more than 12 months.

Some 2,300 individuals are on the waiting list, including hundreds of children who have never been seen. Hundreds more are adults with glaucoma, who have either never been seen or are awaiting follow-up treatment and, in some cases, may be facing blindness.

The HSE has advertised the permanent post on a temporary basis, making it difficult, if not impossible, to fill it, and so it has turned out. It has again advertised the permanent post on a temporary basis. Why has this happened? We cannot get an answer. Perhaps the Taoiseach can get one for us. The fear in south Tipperary is that the HSE plans to downgrade or transfer the service. When will we have a consultant-staffed service operating again in south Tipperary?, asked Deputy Healy.