Delay in transferring Cork ophthalmology services condemned as 'waste of money'

Michael Collins TD welcoming patients ono the 100th Belfast or Blind Bus for their cataract procedures at Kingsbridge Private Hospital. Picture: Neil Michael.

The delay in transferring ophthalmology services from one Cork hospital to another has been condemned as a waste of public money.

Two new theatres for ophthalmology and a new outpatients clinic have been developed at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital. However, it is understood an agreement has not yet been reached with Cork University Hospital about the transfer of services from there to the SIVUH.

Last weekend, 24 people travelled on a bus to Belfast from Cork to undergo surgery for cataracts. On February 3, another bus will travel to Belfast carrying patients from Cork, Tipperary and Galway, according to organiser and independent TD Michael Collins.

Fine Gael Cork North Central TD Colm Burke met with the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly this week to push for action on the transfer between the two hospitals in and says that the new SIVUH facilities are not being used to their full potential.

He is also waiting on a response to a parliamentary question he has lodged in relation to it.

Mr Burke, who sits on the SIVUH board, told the Irish Examiner: “We have spent public money and we are busing people to Northern Ireland. It is now being held up without any explanation. This was planned over four years ago.

“It is a huge waste of public money — a huge kick in the teeth to the people who work very hard to try to improve the service. Now that we have the capacity to provide a better service, we are finding that there are obstacles in the way and it has to be resolved.” 

Construction of the Ophthalmology Outpatients Department at South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital, Cork in 2021. Picture: Larry Cummins

Long wait

A regional department of ophthalmology in the SIVUH had been expected to open in 2021, with the transfer of services from other hospitals. However, the full transfer has not yet taken place.

The development of a regional department of ophthalmology was included as a recommendation in the 2017 national clinical programme for ophthalmology, and in the reconfiguration of acute hospital services plan for Cork and Kerry.

Mr Collins said that those travelling on the so-called Belfast or Blind buses for cataract treatment have no other choice because of a lack of facilities in Cork.

The bus which travelled last weekend was the 144th to undertake the trip since December 2017.

He said: “A lot of people hold out in the hope that they can be treated locally but a lot of people leave it too late.” Treatment was initially reimbursed via the Cross Border Directive (CBD) on Healthcare, but it has been replaced by another reimbursement scheme — the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme.

A spokesman for the South/Southwest Hospital Group said: “The transfer of outpatient services from Cork University Hospital to the South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital was delayed due to a number of clinical issues being raised by Cork University Hospital. These issues have now been addressed and the plan is to move the service in February 2024. 

"The transfer of elective Ophthalmic surgery from Cork University Hospital to the South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital is now complete.”