Professor Frank Keane:

No, in that particular situation the outcome related to the set-up and resources necessary to provide an efficient cataract service as a day service. That is in the process of being corrected. We are aware the hospital is behind the line on cataract outcomes. It has come down to the fact that the hospital did not have the set-up to do such operations as day cases. That might sound peculiar but part of the process of day case activity is having the resources to carry out the activity. It is rather like what we have been talking about with tonsils in that not only does one have to be careful about how one assesses people beforehand and do all the work-out before they come in, but that has to be done very close to the time they have their operation. The reason for that is in order for it to be within a safety span of having been seen and worked out, and then having one’s procedure and having systems set up in order that people are managed after they go home. If one does not have all the bits and pieces one needs to deliver the service set-up, it is not safe to carry out the procedure and one will continue to do some as day cases. That has been the situation with Cork University Hospital.