We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
THIRTEEN PEOPLE REQUIRING cataract surgery travelled from Cork and Kerry to Belfast over the weekend where they had their operations carried out under the cross-border directive.
The elderly group, aged in their 70s and 80s, travelled eight hours to Kingsbridge Hospital in Belfast for their surgeries.
There are currently more than 8,500 people in the Republic of Ireland on the cataract waiting list.
Some people have been told they will have to wait up to two years for their first consultation, while others have been facing a waiting list of up to four years for an operation.
Independent TD Michael Collins was one of the politicians who organised the journey to Belfast.
“We’ve taken action by bringing a bus to Belfast for a simple procedure for a cataract operation that could have taken place here in Bantry Hospital. Really it’s a case of Belfast or go blind,” Collins said.
Gerry Higgins was the first person who took the journey up to Belfast to have the surgery done.
He said: “Mainly, and above all, is that I can drive, the car is very handy, mainly for doing meals on wheels, I love meals on wheels. This eye operation is absolutely heaven.”
https://twitter.com/KennyAKE/status/942688487156961280
Another patient Patrick Casey said that life after the surgery will be “a new world”.
“It went so easy and quick, as such, that this could have been done six, seven years ago in the south, only there’s a waiting list,” Casey said.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, the HSE’s professor Billy Power said there is a need for an increase in cataract theatres in Ireland.
He called for specialist theatres that deal only with patients with cataracts in an efficient manner. He said one of these is in operation in Dublin’s Eye and Ear Hospital, but there’s a need for others.
“If we don’t do things differently, we’re facing a tsunami in terms of the numbers of people who are waiting and who will be waiting for cataract surgery,” Power said.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
There are surgeons traveling to undeveloped countries performing this surgery on hundreds of people at a time and restoring their vision. I remember seeing a documentary on it years ago and thinking it was ridiculous that there were still countries in the world to couldn’t offer their people this simple procedure.
It’s hard to believe that we now have to travel across the border to get this procedure down in a reasonable timeframe
@Tweety McTweeter:
It’s a genuine case of the blind leading the blind. Health “care” Fine Gael style. Not that hard to believe really given their proven track record of utter incompetence in this area.
I have an elderly neighbour (82) who has been waiting years for this. I’d happily drive him to Belfast. Can someone explain how the scheme works?
@Ciaran Ennis: Very simple actually, check out the Cross Border Directive on Citizens Information.
Basically you get a referral letter for the surgery from your doctor and contact the ‘National Contact Point’ in the EU country you want to go to where they match you up with a surgeon, you fill in a form for the HSE to pre-authorise the care and once you’ve got that you just travel for the surgery.
You have to pay for it upfront (Credit Unions are offering interest free loans for this purpose) and when you get back you submit the receipt and the HSE will reimburse you.
Covers all types of care in-patient and out-patient including medicines etc.
@Ciaran Ennis: The Scheme is a FG thingy. Die and the figures look better
@ForeverFeel1ng:
Thanks for this. Will socialise among people who it seems to me could benefit. We can’t fix the system but we can work it :-)
@Ciaran Ennis: I know how the scheme worked in the UK when my elderly mother lost her sight due to cataracts. The doctor told us that there was a 50/50 chance that sight would return if cataract treatment was performed. When we said that we were prepared to take the chance we were hit with a bill of £1,900 per eye for the treatment.
So much for National Health Services.
Its no big deal , I had mine done about eight years ago operation took about 15 minutes so I do not know what the problem is , they seem to want to keep people on waiting lists for some reason or other . And the cost is also something that should be looked at we see on the tv mobile units in africa that can do the operation for less than 50euro .
The Republic of medical bus journeys.
Get their teeth done while their there, half the price.
@David Dickson: only if you pay nhs if not and you go private it’s more expensive
@Shelley: it’s still cheaper ..
@David Dickson: and that’s the Real Deal.
@David Dickson: no it is better and cheaper to go to Hungary for dental work.
Wouldn’t it have made more sense to send them to the North West (e.g. Sligo) where they have no waiting lists for cataracts but still fall under the HSE umbrella rather than a foreign jurisdiction at a substantial cost to the tax payer?
@Karen Wellington: Up north, they were paying €1600, including accomodation. Here people were quoted up to €9000 for the same procedure.. It is considerably cheaper for the hse to send these people over the border.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: the public list for the cataract procedure in Sligo UniversityHospital is nil, they’re piloting a programme which is proving successful. If its cheaper for the HSE to employ the NHS to do its work then why aren’t we all being shipped up north?
Great story. Life changer for the people concerned
More people need to know about the Cross Border Directive, especially if they’re on a waiting list. It covers literally all healthcare and there’s barely any waiting lists in the North.
A bus to Belfast or Derry cost’s barely €20 from all the major towns, could really help some people.
@ForeverFeel1ng:
Thanks for you post. I could not agree more. Let’s try to be positive here. I knew nothing about this initiative until I poked around this article.
C
Desperate we can’t look after our old folk. What a focking disgrace.
Sorry for multiple posts. New to Journal
@Ciaran Ennis: your 3yr little bubble is a bit of a give away …
@Siobhán Ni Mhurchú:
Hi Siobhan
I was an early adopter but bailed out due to the cruel and cynical comments. News items were good but there is very little analysis or empathy in the comment section.
I only reconnected to see if I could help my neighbour. You won’t hear from me again unless some similar situation crops up.
Anyway, thanks to Jack for giving me the information I needed.
And a Happy Christmas to you also
C
I have an elderly neighbour (82) who has been waiting years for this. I would happily drive him to Belfast. Anyone know how the scheme works?
@Jack O’Connell:
Thanks Jack. Will follow up in January. He used to be a great reader so will be delighted if he can get this done.
Happy Christmas
C
@Ciaran Ennis:
Good man Ciaran. Fantastic gift to give someone
@Ciaran Ennis: Good for you. How dangerous is it that senior citizens are coping alone with going slowly blind in this country?
Wonder what policy held you back from mentioning the other T.D. who paid for the bus. Yep, Danny Healy-Rae! Why not give credit where credit is due?
Brilliant, so happy for these people who have suffered for years and would have continued for many more years. It is very simple if you have a lot of people on a waiting list with the same problem put the resources in and tackle the problem. There must be thousands of people with non life threatening problems that a focused approach could help. Instead its crisis mismanagement. Peoples’ quality of life and independence suffer probably manifesting in needs from other social budgets. It is shameful how the elderly are marginalised.
Can someone explain how this works? I’ve an elderly neighbour who is waiting years for this and I would happily drive him to Belfast
Many patients with cataracts from Cork, Kerry, Limerick, and other regions have successfully and comfortably availed of the Cross Border Directive at Cathedral Eye Clinic in Belfast. See link below for further info or call the Clinic directly on 04890322020 http://www.cathedraleye.com/cross-border-directive/
have your say