Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Health.

The demand for ophthalmic services has grown in the region in question over the past number of years. This is due both to the development of new treatments and the ageing population profile. Recent reports predict that this demand will continue to increase in the coming years. In line with recommendations in the National Clinical Programme for Ophthalmology: Model of Eye Care from 2017, and in Reconfiguration of Acute Hospital Services, Cork and Kerry - A roadmap to develop an integrated university hospital network, it was decided there should be a regional department of ophthalmology.

The South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital was chosen as the site best suited for this. As part of these developments, the ophthalmology outpatients department, OPD, and eye casualty at Cork University Hospital and the OPD from Mercy University Hospital will transfer to a new OPD and eye casualty building at SIVUH. These transfers are expected in early 2023.

The new ophthalmology unit includes two operating theatres, anaesthetic, scrub and prep rooms, a recovery unit and an ophthalmology day unit. The new unit will also include the most modern equipment and will have access to supportive diagnostic technology. In addition to developing hospital services, this new unit will also support continued work with the regional eye care service based in the primary community care centre in Ballingcollig. This will further strengthen links between the community and the acute hospital setting for the benefit of ophthalmology patients. It is the intention of the South/Southwest Hospital Group and the community health organisation to expand the capacity within ophthalmology services to meet the increased service demands, including the expansion of surgical and medical consultant ophthalmologist posts.

The HSE has advised that approval for an additional consultant ophthalmic surgeon post is being examined in the context of the funding available in 2023 in order to further expand the current service. The new ophthalmology unit provides further evidence of the Government's commitment to South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital and to the people of Cork in providing the most appropriate care in the right place at the right time. The new ophthalmology unit is an extremely significant milestone in the evolution of services, both acute and community, for the people of Cork and the South/Southwest Hospital Group. I am not sure if that actually responds to the specific question the Deputy asked but I might come back in.

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