Mattie McGrath highlights 20,437 on ophthalmology waiting lists

Mattie McGrath set out the scale of ophthalmology waiting lists, saying 20,437 people are waiting nationwide and 9,500 have waited one year, with some waiting up to four years. He criticised the lack of a coordinated regional approach to funding and staffing and called for better coordination.

Scope of the waiting list problem

Mattie McGrath emphasised national figures for ophthalmology patients on waiting lists, citing 20,437 people waiting nationwide and 9,500 patients waiting one year, with some waiting up to four years. He framed these numbers as evidence of systemic failure in provision and resourcing.

Regional disparities highlighted

He contrasted notable regional differences in waiting lists, pointing out that CH01 currently has 4,885 people waiting while CH05, covering County Liberary, has 2,361 patients waiting. McGrath presented these figures to argue that access and capacity vary sharply across areas.

Local initiative cited as a success

McGrath praised the American Hospital initiative led by Professor David Keegan in collaboration with CH09, saying it began a waiting list initiative prior to COVID and has drastically reduced its waiting lists over the last two years, even through the pandemic. He noted that this unit reported only 94 people waiting this month in what he described as chronic HIV figures.

Call for coordinated response and transport note

He argued there is no proper coordinated regional approach to funding or staffing and urged a nationally coordinated response to replicate successful models. McGrath also saluted Deputy Collins for his 90th bus going up to Belfast and used the image of a "blind bus" to underline that patients should not be left without organised support.