Concern has been expressed that Roscommon patients are now being forced to travel to Galway for basic eye field tests as the HSE has not replaced lenses for a specific machine at the Roscommon HSE eye clinic.
Deputy Eugene Murphy tabled a parliamentary question with the Minister for Health on the subject as a number of constituents had raised the matter with him in recent weeks.
“A number of people have contacted my constituency office in relation to this matter as people who were previously able to get a simple eye field test under the Primary Care system in Roscommon have now been told that they must travel to University College Hospital, Galway as the lenses for the specific machine in Roscommon have not been replaced.
“The HSE has indicated that the required lenses are very specific and are currently on order and until such time as the lenses have been received all patients requiring this service must access the service in UCHG.
“In a most recent PQ reply this week in relation to the matter the HSE has stated that the lenses are still on order and they do not have an expected date of delivery of these lenses which is simply not good enough!
“A lot of these patients are elderly and may not have their own form of transport so it is very inconvenient for them to have to travel to Galway all because the HSE has not replaced the lenses for a specific machine.
“I will be raising the matter again with the Minister for Health to ensure that this matter is addressed as a matter of urgency,” concluded Deputy Murphy
