Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his question.

Reducing waiting times for patients for hospital operations and procedures is a key priority for the Government. Cataract surgery is among the most common surgical procedures carried out in the ophthalmology specialty. Through the work of the National Treatment Purchase Fund, NTPF, and the HSE, the overall number of patients waiting for cataract surgery has fallen by 22% since July 2017, while the number of patients waiting for more than 12 months has declined by 71% in the same period. This is one of the areas where we are making significant progress as a result of the investment made through the NTPF.

For 2018, under the inpatient-day case action plan, all clinically suitable patients waiting for more than nine months for a cataract procedure will be offered treatment this year, with 5,000 additional NTPF funded procedures planned in public and private hospitals. Last year funding was allocated to provide additional capacity at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital and a cataract theatre is now operational there. This year, in line with the action plan, the HSE is planning to open a dedicated cataract theatre in Nenagh hospital in July. This will also benefit patients from Deputy Brassil's constituency.

In primary care the HSE published the primary care eye services review group's report in June 2017. The report sets out the way forward for a significant amount of eye services to be provided in a primary care setting. The recommendations made in the report are to be implemented on a phased basis. To support implementation of the report, funding of €1 million was allocated this year to establish new primary care eye support teams in south and west Dublin and further develop the primary care eye team in north Dublin to help to alleviate waiting lists. We are making progress in this area, but we need to continue to make progress. There were 10,304 people waiting for cataract procedures in April 2017. In April 2018 that number had dropped to 7,818. We are, therefore, seeing the benefits of the investment to reduce cataract surgery waiting lists. The opening of the cataract operating theatre in Nenagh hospital in July will make a real difference. It will provide a service for patients from counties Limerick, Laois, Kerry, Clare, Offaly, Kilkenny and Tipperary. We have begun the roll-out of the new primary care eye support teams, but, clearly, we need to see them being spread throughout the State. I look forward to seeing the impact of the new €1 million investment.

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