Six years v two weeks: The Irish patients beating the waiting lists to get treatment abroad

With the HSE covering the cost of treatments under the EU Cross Border directive, more Irish patients are avoiding the long waiting lists here to get treatment abroad and stop their pain

Michael Carroll from Cork who had cataract surgery in Spain under the EU Cross Border Directive. “Through the HSE, they were saying there is going to be a new cataract centre in the South Infirmary, but that could be two years down the road.” Photo: Sergi Albir

When Michael Carroll’s two-year-old granddaughter took his hand to steer him through his own house in Cork, he realised his failing eyesight was affecting everyone in the family.

Understanding this and unwilling to wait on a list for years, he found his way to a Spanish hospital near Alicante where he had cataract operations a few days ago, reassured by the fact the HSE would cover the cost under the EU Cross Border directive.