Professor David Keegan:

The numbers are low. I do not want to be reactionary or sensationalist in commenting on that, but it is a fact that if one does enough surgeries there will be complications no matter how safe or routine the surgery is. Where do they get managed in that context and is there a managed agreement? There is no managed agreement because there is no specific unit that is ready to take the complications, so the patients are referred to the nearest emergency unit or the nearest emergency unit deemed to the centre that is up there. Then the care is taken up by the emergency services of the HSE through the units in this country.

Again, it is another reason that I have a problem with the entire process. We should be facilitated to look after the patients who are referred to us. We operate on them in our facilities. If we cannot do them in our facilities, we do them in an agreement in other facilities and there is a referral back arrangement in place. It is clear and transparent, and the patients know what they are getting out of it. However, thisad hocarrangement of referrals with emergencies does not sit well with me and it is not to the principles of the programme we are trying to advance here today. One of the driving forces at the start of this was that we would deliver care to Irish patients in the Irish jurisdiction and we look after people here. I also have to respect Deputy Kenny's comment about his patients, and we have to work harder to do that. I hope today's engagement shows the committee and the broader public that there is a group of people involved in eye care who are absolutely committed to doing that.