Mr. David Keegan:

Yes, that is why I stressed the need for processes. We need a process, we need screening programmes and then we need awareness at general practice level of the condition. There also is the question of public awareness about with what people will present. In recent years, we have been pressing to raise public awareness, particularly now that we have treatments for macular degeneration. As for what is an urgent condition, in this case it concerns progressive loss of vision but the Senator is aware that an urgent condition is one in which by making an intervention, one can prevent or reverse that loss. A non-urgent condition is either when there is nothing one can do about the condition or if it can be addressed down the road. For example, a cataract is a less urgent issue, as one can address it down the road.

We have to educate both general practitioners and the public about identifying the signs and symptoms so these patients will be referred quickly up the system. Proper processes will de-stress those urgent services and we can get these patients in appropriately. The treatments are available. It is about getting the patients treated in a timely manner. A patient with an acute leak from macular degeneration has only a matter of weeks before they get up to the point of irreversible vision loss.