Funding to transfer delivery of children's eyecare yet to come on stream

The eye care programme for treating children over the age of eight is 'ad hoc' at best and needs immediate attention according to local opticians. File picture: iStock

Funding to transfer eyecare for some children on hospital waiting lists to local ophthalmologists has not yet been allocated over eight months since it was announced by the Department of Health.

This is despite waiting lists showing 1,399 children aged under five waiting longer than one year for eyecare around the country. Some 188 are in Cork and Kerry while 184 are in the Clare, Limerick, north Tipperary region.

A further 1,490 children aged from 5 to 17 have also been waiting longer than one year for help.

Children around south Tipperary face even more delays after the retirement of the primary care ophthalmologist on October 4. Community eyecare is not currently available in the region.

In March 2024, the department said it was working with the HSE on a “detailed implementation plan including costings” to move some care of children aged over eight away from hospitals.

They would get annual reviews from local ophthalmologists instead of waiting to see hospital consultants.

However, the department has now said it “will continue to liaise with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in respect of the transfer of care for children over the age of eight.” 

FODO Ireland, the association of eye care providers, was frustrated this was not in Budget 2025.

Chairman and Waterford-based optometrist Garvan Mulligan said having 1,400 young children waiting so long is the “most shocking” aspect of the delays.

“That’s the critical stage in their eye development. So being left with nowhere to go for a year can be critical for their long-term vision,” he said.

You can best correct their vision by the age of 10 so missing it at the four or five stage is really crucial for children. 

He added: “The Minister of Health has said on a few occasions that transferring the care of the over-8s to optometry is his priority. He said that over the last few years and nothing has happened yet.” 

Describing the move as “an easy fix” to long waiting lists, he suggested appointments for young children could be created by transferring older children to their members instead.

Meanwhile, Anna-Marie Lanigan, the HSE Head of Service for Primary Care said recruitment has started to find a new ophthalmologist for the Clonmel region.

“The provision of Community Ophthalmic services will continue in the South Tipperary Primary Care area once the replacement post of Ophthalmologist has been appointed,” she said.

In Cork and Kerry, a spokeswoman said the HSE “sincerely regrets the waiting times for children’s Ophthalmology services” there.

“We have arranged for a screening process to assess and identify high-priority cases for review,” she said and this has seen “significant progress “ in reducing waiting times.

A programme targeting waits for young children is expected to be complete by January.

“After which all referrals will be managed within an optimal timeframe,” she said.

Nationally, €8.4m was invested in 2024 to address waiting lists for Primary Care Services, including optical services, the department said.

“For 2025, this funding has been secured for continued investment for initiatives aimed at reducing the length of time people are waiting for primary care services.” 

It also highlighted “the increasing level of demand for primary care services”.