Longford patients having to travel 'a long way' to hospital in Dublin for eye appointments
Longford-Westmeath TD Micheál Carrigy raised the issue in the Dáil recently
People with eye problems in County Longford are having to travel to a hospital in Dublin for their appointments, the Dáil has heard.
The issue was raised by Longford-Westmeath Fine Gael TD Micheál Carrigy during a recent ‘Questions on Policy or Legislation’ session.
Deputy Carrigy said: “I wish to raise ophthalmology services in Longford-Westmeath or the lack thereof.
“In 2024 we lost our service in Longford and since then we have had periods of no service with people having to travel to Dublin or Athlone or a temporary service back in Longford.
“The most recent correspondence I got from the HSE stated that for patients in Longford-Westmeath requiring a consultant ophthalmologist, the pathway for access to the service is currently the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin as there is no consultant based in the Regional Hospital Mullingar, which covers Longford and Westmeath.”
He concluded by asking when the service will return to the constituency of Longford-Westmeath.
In response to Deputy Carrigy, Tánaiste Simon Harris thanked him for raising what he described as “an important issue”.
The Tánaiste continued: “He is right that people in Longford are currently being told that the pathway to access a consultant ophthalmologist is the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin.
“I think that is the primary referral centre. It is a long way from Longford to that hospital in Dublin, particularly for someone with an ophthalmology condition.
“Currently, there is no consultant ophthalmologist based at the Regional Hospital Mullingar.
“The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is engaging with the HSE to see whether recruitment of a consultant ophthalmologist based in the Regional Hospital Mullingar is viable.”
Deputy Harris went on to say that he and Minister Carroll MacNeill are eager to see progress on the issue.
He added that the Minister will get back to Deputy Carrigy once she has heard from the HSE.