Ireland’s eye-care waiting lists increase during COVID-19

In Ireland, eye-care practitioners are calling for a national roll-out of the proven Sligo eye-care scheme, as eye-care waiting lists have increased significantly – to 52,000 – during COVID-19.

According to figures to July from the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF), 43,000 people were on the outpatient eye-care waiting list, with almost 21,000 of these people having already waited for more than a year. More than 9,100 people were also awaiting inpatient eye procedures.

Eye-care waiting lists are “out of control”, according to Patricia Dunphy, president of the Association of Optometrists Ireland (AOI). “Urgent reform of how services are planned and delivered is needed. In the South West people can be waiting up to five years for Cataract surgery. However, waiting times are shortest at approximately one year in the North West. This is because of the proven ‘Sligo Post-Cataract Scheme’.”

The Sligo Scheme involves the Hospital Ophthalmology Department and optometrists in the region integrating and working more closely to reduce hospital appointments. Cataract surgery accounts for a significant volume of waiting list cases, which is why reducing hospital attendances for the condition has a significant impact.

“AOI is calling for the protocol to be sanctioned as policy nationwide by the Minister for Health and his Department,” says Patricia Dunphy. “In terms of cost, it is 50% less expensive to provide appointments in the local community at an Optometrist than in Hospitals. In the context of COVID-19, managing patients at their local Optometrist reduces travel and public contact.” She added: “Delay to the treatment of loss of vision not only affects worse eye health outcomes, it also impacts on independent living and can lead to the need for carers, care homes, mental health services and unemployment benefits.”