Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There is a related issue regarding opticians and ophthalmologists. If somebody has an eye injury and goes to a local optician before being referred to an accident and emergency department, that person would be liable for a charge of €100. Somebody presenting to a GP with an eye injury may be sent to an optician, who may also look at the eye. Such a person may be doing his or her best to get advice before presenting at the accident and emergency department but would still be penalised. A referral letter from an optician to an accident and emergency department does not have standing equal to a GP or ophthalmologist, even if a GP instructs a person to go to an optician. I raised this with the former Minister, Deputy Reilly, and we should consider the issue. An optician is probably present in most communities and if people have something in their eye, they would generally tend to go to the optician before being referred to the accident and emergency department, so they would be liable for the charge.