Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the very important issue of the appointment of eye care liaison officers, ECLOs, to the hospital groups throughout the country. When somebody is diagnosed for the first time with sight loss, the consultant will have a one-stop-shop person to whom to refer the individual. This is a person who will advise them on the various step-down services, peer counselling and supports, from the National Council for the Blind and guide dogs to peer counselling. That officer will also assist with follow-up medical interventions, appointments, advice and so on.

This has been piloted in Dublin between Temple Street Children's Hospital and Crumlin Children's Hospital. At a very early stage, the number of referrals to the step-down support services has increased dramatically and the result that people go on to live independent lives has been demonstrated in recent years. Quick diagnosis, early intervention and fast engagement with services has proven to be invaluable. This has worked very well in the UK and, as I said, it is working in Dublin.

I tabled a Private Members’ motion on this during the previous Seanad in 2019 and it was accepted unanimously that this would be rolled out to all hospital groups. Following my re-election to the Seanad, I have continued advocating on this specific issue. The various consultants involved are stressed and are working to the limit. Some have a very strong knowledge of the aftercare and support services, while others have just a working knowledge. To bring continuity to everybody in this country, irrespective of where they live, I want ECLOs rolled out in Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Sligo, and an additional ECLO in Dublin.

A meeting took place prior to Christmas between Liam Woods of the HSE and his team and the National Council for the Blind of Ireland, NCBI, which is in charge of the pilot taking place in Dublin. This was committed to very clearly at that meeting and the HSE agreed with and saw the benefit of the policy, and was happy to commit that the seven additional ECLOs would be rolled out in 2021. I completely understand that we are in the midst of a global pandemic and I know that things are stressed and stretched. However, I also know that other healthcare is progressing and there are developments in other areas of healthcare. That is why I believe we need immediate action on this issue. It has been committed to, including in this House. Equally as important, it was committed to by the HSE at that meeting before Christmas. It is now May so if the commitment to see ECLOs rolled out throughout the country is to be delivered in 2021, we need action.

That is the ask and it is a very reasonable ask. It is a project and an intervention that has worked enormously well abroad, and where it was piloted here in Dublin city, it has been proven to work extremely well. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.