Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Conway for his interest in the situation. I will talk to the Minister to organise a meeting between Liam Woods and his team and the NCBI as quickly as possible. I know that the eye care liaison officer provides an important and worthwhile service by providing non-clinical support for patients and their families and allowing clinicians to focus on diagnosis, treatment and medical follow up. This approach of allowing clinicians to focus on their specific clinical work is also in line with the integrated eye care teams approach. Eye care liaison officers are and would be a valuable resource in all hospital ophthalmic departments. The Minister has asked the HSE to continue to examine how it can best support the appointment of additional eye care liaison officers and to keep me informed of progress in this regard. We will set up that meeting between the teams and the NCBI.